Willem, hertog van Gulik en Kleef, onderwerpt zich aan Karel V en staat Zutphen en Gelre aan hem af, 1543 1794 - 1796

Jacobus Buys made this drawing depicting Willem, Duke of Gulik and Cleves, surrendering to Charles V in 1543. Created in the late 18th century, the drawing reflects a Dutch Republic that was looking back on its own history. At its core, this image encapsulates themes of power, submission, and shifting political landscapes during the 16th century. Willem's act of kneeling and surrendering territories symbolizes not just personal defeat but also the subjugation of his people and lands under Charles V's imperial authority. What does it mean for an individual's identity when their land is occupied? The drawing encapsulates a pivotal moment of geopolitical transformation; it also suggests profound personal stories of loss of agency and forced assimilation. Buys asks us to consider what it meant to be a leader stripped of his domain, a people incorporated into a foreign empire.