Belgian Freedom ca. 1830

This Dutch caricature shows the "dedication of the Belgian liberty pole" after the creation of an independent Provisional Government in 1830. Notorious "conspirators" played their role in the Belgian revolution: The man at the bottom is Louis de Potter (1786–1859), a friend of Philippe Buonarroti (1761–1837); the man with the cornered hat above him, seen on the back, is Juan van Halen (1788–1864), a military veteran of secret societies in Spain and Russia.

Untitled caricature, engraving, ca. 1830, unknown artist; image source: Courtesy International Institute of Social History, Amsterdam.