De katafalk opgericht in de Sint Gudula (plaat III bovenste helft), 1622 1623

Cornelis Galle I created this engraving, “De katafalk opgericht in de Sint Gudula”, in 1622, commemorating the funeral monument for Archduke Albert VII in Brussels. This print offers us a glimpse into the elaborate rituals surrounding death and power in the Habsburg Netherlands. Funerals were orchestrated not just as religious ceremonies, but as political theater. They reinforced social hierarchies and legitimized the power of the ruling class. Albert, as governor of the Netherlands, played a crucial role in the Counter-Reformation. The visual display of his funeral would have been carefully crafted to project an image of piety and strength, solidifying Habsburg authority in a region marked by religious and political strife. Consider the emotional impact such a spectacle would have had on mourners and viewers. It's a blend of genuine grief, religious solemnity, and political messaging, all interwoven in the public space of the St. Gudula church. Galle’s engraving not only documented the event, but also contributed to shaping its memory. The image, disseminated through prints, extended the reach of the funeral’s message far beyond the church walls, turning a personal ceremony into a tool for wider political and social influence.