Rozen met silhouetportretten van Willem I Frederik, koning der Nederlanden, Wilhelmina van Pruisen, hun kinderen, zijn moeder en zijn zus 1815 - 1819

Evert Maaskamp created this watercolor of roses with silhouette portraits in the Netherlands, sometime around the late 18th or early 19th century. At first glance, it is a simple floral piece, but on closer inspection, the profiles of the Dutch Royal family can be seen hidden amongst the petals. The House of Orange, suggested by the color of the roses, had a powerful hold on the Dutch imagination. Maaskamp produced this artwork at a time when the Netherlands had been invaded by France. By concealing the royal family within the symbol of a flower, Maaskamp was able to display support for the monarchy while avoiding political censorship. The portraits are arranged to show the family's close ties. To better understand this artwork, we can research the history of the House of Orange, the political climate of the Netherlands during the French occupation, and the symbolism of flowers in Dutch culture. It is this kind of research that gives the artwork new meaning.