De dodelijke val van Willem III tijdens een jachtpartij, 1702 1702

This print from 1702 depicts the death of William III. Observe the somber atmosphere, with figures draped in mourning attire gathered around the king's bedside. This scene, laden with the iconography of death, invites us to contemplate the cyclical nature of life and mortality. Consider the motif of the draped canopy above the bed. This symbol of authority and power, here overshadowing a scene of loss, echoes through time. We see similar canopies in depictions of royal deaths throughout history, each carrying the weight of tradition and the specter of mortality. Recall the canopies in medieval tapestries depicting the death of kings, or even in ancient Roman reliefs portraying the passing of emperors. The repetition of such symbols across centuries reveals how collective memory shapes our understanding of death and power. These recurring images remind us that even in the face of change, certain archetypes persist, deeply rooted in our shared human experience. The emotional weight of this image lies not only in its immediate depiction of grief, but also in its connection to a long and powerful lineage of mourning.