Alva verlaat de Nederlanden, 1573 1613 - 1615

This engraving, made in 1573 by an anonymous artist, depicts the departure of the Duke of Alva from the Netherlands. Notice the central figure, Alva, riding in a covered wagon, surrounded by soldiers on horseback. The wagon itself becomes a potent symbol. Think of triumphal processions of Roman emperors, carried on litters to signify their power. Here, the wagon, while seemingly less grand, echoes that past, yet the enclosure also hints at something else. Is it protection, or perhaps a mobile prison, suggesting shame rather than glory? Consider how such symbols evolve. In medieval tapestries, wagons might represent journeys, quests, or even pilgrimage. But here, the military escort transforms the wagon’s meaning. The image becomes charged with the complex emotions of departure, the subtle shift revealing a deeper cultural memory at play, shaping how we perceive authority, retreat, and the weight of historical judgment.