Huwelijk prinses Wilhelmina van Pruisen en prins Willem Frederik, 1791 1791

This engraving depicts the wedding of Princess Wilhelmina of Prussia and Prince William Frederick, which took place in Berlin on October 1st, 1791. Its anonymous maker produced it for a broad public, keen to follow the fortunes of the House of Orange. The image creates meaning through visual codes that signal power and authority. Consider, for example, the architectural setting of the Prussian court. The Dutch Republic in the late eighteenth century was dominated by hereditary elites, and the House of Orange was deeply entangled with them. This print and others like it are valuable historical sources. They offer insights into the social and political structures of the time, including how the public perceived the monarchy. Further research, through newspapers, pamphlets, and other printed matter, can reveal the complex social and institutional context in which this image was made and consumed. Ultimately, our understanding of art is contingent on the social contexts that shape it.