Tekstblad bij de prent van het huwelijk van Karel Christiaan van Nassau-Weilburg met prinses Carolina, 1760 1761

This is a textual broadside made in 1760, listing those attending the marriage of Charles of Nassau-Weilburg and Princess Carolina, created by Pieter Gerard van Balen. The public role of art in the 18th century was often to commemorate significant events and to display the social order. In this case, the broadside serves as a record of an important dynastic union, but also as a political document. Printed in French, it lists the names of the dignitaries, nobles, and officials present at the wedding in the Hague. Such lists reinforced social hierarchies, and the very act of recording who was in attendance underscored the importance of rank and status. The inclusion of religious figures, military officers, and state officials demonstrates how intertwined were the personal and political spheres at the time. For historians, documents like these offer a snapshot of the social and institutional landscape of the Dutch Republic. By cross-referencing names with other archival sources, we can trace the networks of power and patronage that shaped the era. In short, this broadside is a rich source of information about the social conditions that shaped artistic production and reception in the 18th century.