Begrafenis van Willem Lodewijk, 1620 (blad 3) 1620

Pieter Feddes van Harlingen created this print, “Funeral of Willem Lodewijk, 1620,” in 1620. Visually, the print is dominated by horizontal registers, each depicting rows of figures in a somber procession. The consistent use of line and repetition creates a sense of order and solemnity. The figures, uniformly draped in cloaks, appear almost as a pattern, evoking a collective expression of mourning. What is striking is the tension between the individual and the collective. The figures, while distinct, are subsumed into a larger structure, suggesting a hierarchy and social order. This dynamic raises interesting questions about identity, power, and representation in the context of 17th-century Dutch society. The artwork, therefore, invites us to consider not just the event it depicts, but also the broader cultural and philosophical implications of representation, power, and the individual's place within society.