De koets van prins Willem III aangehouden door burgers bij Aardrecht (Dordrecht?), 29 juni 1672 1734 - 1801

Jacobus Buys created this small ink drawing of Prince William III's coach being stopped by citizens in Dordrecht in 1672. Note how Buys used subtle washes of grey ink to construct a scene full of tension. The drawing captures a moment of political friction, but it's the formal elements that truly speak to the viewer. The composition is cleverly divided into three horizontal zones: the agitated crowd below, the imperiled carriage in the middle, and the looming architecture above. This structure creates a sense of claustrophobia. Buys' use of line is also crucial; sketchy and hurried, it gives a sense of immediacy to the event. This technique also destabilizes the traditional idea of clear, defined power structures. The drawing challenges the fixed meanings associated with royalty. Instead, it emphasizes the fluidity and instability of political authority.