Historische gekostumeerde optocht te Amsterdam bij het 25-jarige regeringsjubileum van koning Willem III in 1874 (plaat 9) 1874

This print, made in 1874 by an anonymous artist, commemorates King Willem III's 25th jubilee with a historical costumed parade in Amsterdam. Executed in a simple graphic style, the print belies the intensive labor required for the parade itself. Consider the work involved in fabricating multiple horse-drawn carriages, each a complex assemblage of woodworking, metalworking, and upholstery. The horses required skilled training, and the riders would have spent hours rehearsing their roles. Likewise, the costumes worn by the participants would have been produced by professional tailors and seamstresses. The image captures a moment of royal pageantry, but also gestures to the vast social and economic network required to produce such displays of power. By focusing on these aspects, we recognize that even seemingly straightforward images are deeply intertwined with issues of labor, politics, and consumption. It reminds us to look beyond the surface, and to appreciate the full range of human effort that goes into the making of our world.