Anonymous: Stop Tearing Up My Yard, you Spanish pigs! (1578-1582)

 

(Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands)

An engraving made by an unknown Dutch artist. This print is a Dutch political propaganda print from early stages of the Dutch war of independence, the Eighty Years war (1568-1648). In the centre is a small garden surrounded by a fence, this is known as the 'Garden of Holland' (Dutch - "Hollandse Tuin"). This garden represents The Netherlands in this print. The fence is decorated with the coat-of-arms of cities which have joined the rebel cause. A lion (symbol of the Netherlands) with a pike is shown defending the garden. Spanish forces are shown here as pigs who are rooting in the garden - on the right is a pig with a flag, this is Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, 3rd Duke of Alba (1507 – 1582). On the left are several ships with the names Vlissingen, Middelburg and Veere, these are cities which also joined the Dutch rebel cause. Print from 1578-1582.