Historische optocht bij het tweede eeuwfeest van de Utrechtse Hogeschool, 1836 (plaat 3)

Victor Adam created this print in 1836, commemorating the bicentennial of Utrecht University with a historical procession. Adam’s work captures the cultural and political milieu of the Netherlands during a period of national self-reflection, heavily influenced by its colonial past. The procession is not merely a display of historical figures but also a carefully constructed narrative of Dutch identity. Notice the figures of African descent amidst this celebration, likely representing enslaved individuals or colonial subjects. Their inclusion, or rather, their positioning, reflects the complex relationship between the Netherlands, its history of slavery, and its economic prosperity. Adam’s print invites us to reflect on whose stories are being told and whose are being omitted or marginalized in this performance of history.