Willem wordt thuis gebracht door de hofhouding van Filips de Goede 1842

Michel Mourot created this print, "Willem wordt thuis gebracht door de hofhouding van Filips de Goede" in the Netherlands, sometime in the first half of the 19th century. It depicts a historical scene but also comments on social structures of its own time. The image shows a man, presumably Willem, being supported by members of the court of Philip the Good and brought to a humble home, maybe his own. The contrast between the opulent attire of the courtiers and the modest dwelling highlights the divide between the elite and the common folk. Is Mourot presenting a critique of the aristocracy, showing their disconnect from the realities of everyday life? Or is he demonstrating an act of charity and social responsibility on their part? Historical records and studies of 19th-century Dutch society can reveal the social and political context that shaped Mourot's perspective, and reveal the artist's own stance. The meaning of the artwork is contingent on this context.