Tot scha der Spanjaards / en al der vyanden spijt: / Word leyden door Godts hulp van tyranny bevrijt

Here is the description of the artwork: This print, made by Johannes Kannewet, depicts the liberation of Leiden from Spanish rule. Kannewet made this print to reflect the tensions of his time, when printmakers often served as powerful mouthpieces for political and religious sentiments. Engraved with the inscription "Despite the scorn of the Spaniards and all enemies: Leiden is liberated from tyranny by God's help," it portrays the siege of Leiden in the context of the Eighty Years' War, when the Dutch fought for independence from Spain. This conflict was deeply intertwined with religious tensions between Protestant Dutch rebels and Catholic Spanish rulers. Kannewet’s print underscores the Dutch Reformed population’s reliance on divine intervention. The images evoke the extreme hardships experienced by the people of Leiden during the siege, as well as the cultural identity forged in the crucible of war and religious persecution. The print serves as a reminder of the human cost of conflict, and the narratives that shape a nation's sense of self.