Vertrek vanaf Huis ten Bosch voor de doop van prins Willem Frederik, 1772 1772

Thomas Jan Walter made this print in 1772 depicting the departure from Huis ten Bosch for the baptism of Prince William Frederick. It offers a window into the visual culture of the Dutch Republic and the representation of power. The print's composition, with the palace as a backdrop and the procession in the foreground, uses visual codes that evoke status and order. Produced during a period of political and economic shifts in the Netherlands, this image reinforces the legitimacy and continuity of the House of Orange. The depiction of the procession, with its emphasis on ceremony and tradition, reflects the values of a society that was negotiating its identity in relation to its past and its future. The print serves to solidify the family’s position within the cultural imagination of the time. To fully understand this image, we might look to period documents, such as official records, personal letters, and other prints and paintings. These resources provide insight into the political and cultural context in which the artwork was produced and consumed.