Willem III wordt als koning van Engeland gezalft, 1689 1689

Pieter Pickaert created this print titled "Willem III wordt als koning van Engeland gezalft, 1689" in 1689. It depicts the coronation of William III as King of England, an event deeply entwined with religious and political tensions of the time. This work provides insight into the power dynamics of 17th-century Europe, where monarchy, religion, and national identity were constantly negotiated. The act of anointing the King is rendered here, in great detail as an assertion of divine right, a concept loaded with implications for the distribution of power. This moment also raises questions about the role of spectacle and ritual in legitimizing authority. What does it mean to produce and circulate images of power? Consider the experiences of those excluded from this ceremony: the common people, the colonized, and those whose identities were marginalized. How does this image serve to reinforce or challenge traditional narratives of kingship and nationhood?