Maskerade van de Leidse studenten, 1865 (plaat 3) 1865

Jan Daniël Cornelis Carel Willem baron de Constant Rebecque created this print titled, Maskerade van de Leidse studenten, 1865 (plaat 3), in 1865. This print offers us a window into the historical imagination of 19th century Dutch students, reflecting their views on identity, history, and class. These students, the future elite of the Netherlands, staged a masquerade, appropriating historical and cultural symbols for entertainment, and perhaps, to assert their connection to a perceived glorious past. The figures are dressed in costumes evoking medieval times, including knights on horseback and figures resembling monks or clerics. Note the performative aspect of identity; the students temporarily embody these roles, blurring the lines between historical reverence and theatrical play. The masquerade can be viewed as a form of social commentary, where the students playfully engage with notions of power, tradition, and national identity. It reflects a desire to connect with a romanticized version of the past, while simultaneously reinforcing their own positions within the social hierarchy of their time.