Vuurwerk te Leiden bij de aanstelling van Willem IV tot stadhouder van de Republiek, 1747 1747 - 1749

This print captures the fireworks in Leiden celebrating Willem IV's appointment as stadtholder of the Dutch Republic in 1747. Produced by an anonymous artist, the print serves as a window into the complex interplay of power, identity, and public sentiment during a pivotal moment in Dutch history. The image foregrounds the architecture erected for the event, a classical structure framing allegorical figures and symbols of Dutch identity. The choice to depict fireworks—ephemeral displays of light and sound—as a commemorative subject speaks to the theatricality of state power and the carefully constructed image of the monarchy. The event was put on by students in Leiden, thus connecting the rising power of the monarchy with the intellectual class. Consider how the print engages with the viewer’s own sense of national identity and belonging. It invites reflection on how spectacles of power shape collective memory and contribute to the ongoing construction of Dutch identity.