Gezicht op het stadhuis van Veere before 1880

This anonymous artwork gives us a glimpse into the town hall of Veere, rendered in an engraving. Veere, in the Netherlands, thrived as a trading port during the 15th and 16th centuries, deeply entangled in the economic and political currents of the Burgundian Netherlands. The town hall stood as a symbol of civic power and mercantile success, its architecture reflecting the wealth and aspirations of its inhabitants. Notice the statues of noble figures adorning the façade of the building. Among them are women whose identities are irrevocably linked to the politics of the region. Jacqueline, for example, Countess of Hainaut, Holland and Zeeland, whose struggles for power shaped the region's destiny. These sculptures offer a window into the gendered dimensions of power in the Burgundian court, and perhaps even to a time when women exercised considerable authority. This depiction invites us to consider the interplay between architectural representation and the assertion of identity, class, and power within the historical context of the Netherlands.