Standbeeld van Willem I, prins van Oranje, op het Plein te Den Haag 1848 - 1887

Carel Christiaan Antony Last created this image of the statue of William I, Prince of Orange at The Hague. Images of historical figures function within complex cultural and political landscapes. Last’s image of William I presents us with a figure celebrated as the ‘father of the fatherland’ during a period of nation-building and rising Dutch nationalism. How do we interpret the historical narrative of such a monumental figure? The statue, with William's hand on his chest, embodies the emotional weight of leadership and sacrifice, but it also invites us to reflect on the legacies of power and their representation. Consider the identities that are being championed here, but also which identities are subsumed by this image. What does it mean to create and perpetuate historical narratives through public art? This image prompts us to reflect on the stories we tell about ourselves and the heroes we choose to elevate, while subtly reminding us that history is always a construct, shaped by those in power.