Rechtspraak van Karel de Stoute over de gouverneur van Zeeland, ca. 1474 1849

Jan Frederik Christiaan Reckleben made this print around 1874, depicting Charles the Bold’s judgment of the Governor of Zeeland, set in approximately 1474. The print illustrates a moment of high drama, embedding it in the visual codes of 19th-century Dutch historicism. We see Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, pointing an accusing finger, while a woman, presumably the governor's daughter, kneels in supplication. In the 19th century, the Netherlands was constructing its national identity, and historical narratives became potent tools. Reckleben’s print participates in a broader cultural phenomenon: the reimagining of the medieval past to serve contemporary political and cultural needs. Researching archival sources, studying the illustrated press, and understanding the patronage systems of the time can offer a fuller picture. This print reminds us that history is not just a collection of facts, but a narrative shaped by the social and institutional contexts of its telling.