Verklaring bij de prent met het borstbeeld van koning Lodewijk Napoleon, 1808 1808

This explanatory print, made in 1808 by Johannes le Francq van Berkhey, commemorates Louis Napoleon, then King of Holland. It serves not just as a royal portrait but as a reflection on power, identity, and divine intervention during a period of immense upheaval. At the time the Dutch Republic had been replaced by the Kingdom of Holland under French influence. The text emphasizes that the king, with the help of Jehovah, overcame the disastrous flood of Leiden, framing Napoleon as a savior. However, this narrative obscures the complexities of Dutch-French relations, and the imposition of a foreign ruler on a republic that had long cherished its independence. The print attempts to legitimize Napoleon's rule by linking it to historical Dutch royalty and divine will. It prompts us to think about how leaders are constructed through propaganda, especially during times of political change, and how national and cultural identities are manipulated in the process.