Leden van het Hof van Friesland in de begrafenisstoet van prinses Maria Louise, 1765 1765

Rienk Jelgerhuis created this print titled 'Members of the Court of Friesland in the Funeral Procession of Princess Maria Louise' in 1765. This detailed depiction of a somber procession offers a glimpse into the rigid social hierarchies of 18th-century Frisian society. Notice the uniformity of the figures. Dressed in ceremonial robes and hats, they represent the elite members of the Court, marching in a display of collective mourning and stately order. Who were these men, and what power did they hold in relation to the broader populace? In this highly structured society, gender and class dictated one's position, and women, like the deceased Princess Maria Louise, could only exert influence through their social connections. The procession, therefore, becomes a stage upon which male authority and power are visually performed and reinforced. It is an image of power, privilege, and the rituals that sustain them.