Acht bladen met een beschrijving van de begrafenisstoet van Willem IV, 1752 1752

This is ‘Acht bladen met een beschrijving van de begrafenisstoet van Willem IV’, made in 1752 by Daniel Joannes Langeweg. This print depicts the funeral procession of William IV, Prince of Orange, a significant figure in Dutch history as the hereditary stadtholder of the United Provinces. The print offers insight into the social and political landscape of the Netherlands in the mid-18th century. It reflects the hierarchical structures of the time, memorializing a powerful man but also highlighting the cultural norms around death and mourning. Funerary rituals were highly performative events, reinforcing social hierarchies and solidifying the power of the ruling class. The emphasis on ceremony speaks to the importance of public image and the consolidation of dynastic power. This print serves as both a historical document and a cultural artifact. It reminds us of the ways in which death becomes a site for negotiating power, identity, and collective memory.