Wandelrit van prins Willem III buiten Den Haag (blad linksboven), 1686 1686

This is a 1686 print by Johannes Kip, capturing Prince William III's ride outside The Hague. Observe the sky, a dominant feature filled with layered clouds. Clouds, often transient and ethereal, have long served as symbols of change, divine presence, or even impending storms across cultures. Think of the cloudscapes in Renaissance paintings where gods often descend, or the dramatic skies in Romantic landscapes reflecting emotional turmoil. In earlier times, clouds might signify divine judgment or revelation, yet Kip's clouds, while evocative, seem to echo a shift towards a more secular, observational approach, yet, the subconscious association with powerful, uncontrollable natural forces remains. The way we perceive and depict clouds continues to evolve, shaped by our ever-changing cultural and emotional landscapes, yet these symbols resurface, transformed, carrying echoes of past meanings into the present.