Felicitatie op de zilveren bruiloft van Otto Rudolph vom Rath en Anna Maria Louise Bunge, 1885 1885

This is Charles Rochussen's "Felicitatie op de zilveren bruiloft van Otto Rudolph vom Rath en Anna Maria Louise Bunge", made in 1885 using watercolor. The work presents a symmetrical design, divided into distinct registers that combine architectural elements with landscape vignettes and symbolic motifs. Note how the artist uses muted tones—soft blues, grays, and pinks—that contribute to the overall sense of delicacy and nostalgia. Rochussen uses a structured format that blends personal heraldry with public celebration. Each element is carefully placed to balance the personal and the societal. The landscapes, likely significant to the couple, frame the central heraldic shield, visually binding personal identity to place. The cherubic figures at the top serve as classical symbols of love and commitment. The subtle shifts in tone and the detailed execution reflect a late 19th-century fascination with sentimentality and social structure. The image invites us to consider how personal milestones are formally celebrated and embedded within broader cultural narratives.