Decoratie rondom de Pomp op de groote markt te Middelburg, bij de komst van Z.M. de Koning Willem III binnen die Stad, op den 21 Mei 1862 1862

This watercolor, an anonymous work, depicts the decorations around the pump in the market square of Middelburg, celebrating King Willem III’s arrival on May 21, 1862. Notice how the composition organizes itself around vertical lines, from the slender trees to the central pole topped with a circular ornament. These verticals give a formal structure to the celebratory decorations. The limited palette focuses on shades of green and brown, contrasted by the red, white, and blue of the flags, creating a sense of restrained festivity. The flags, adorned with emblems and colors, act as semiotic markers, signaling allegiance and civic pride. The ordering of the natural and artificial elements—trees framing the pump, flags flanking the central pole—presents a carefully constructed tableau. The image invites us to consider how public events are staged and visually encoded. It serves not merely as documentation but as a constructed representation, carefully arranged to convey specific meanings and values.