Begrafenisstoet van Michiel de Ruyter, 1677 19th century

This print from 1677 depicts the funeral procession of Michiel de Ruyter, a celebrated Dutch admiral, by an anonymous artist. It reflects the Dutch Republic’s investment in cultivating national heroes and unifying symbols. The image presents a carefully staged public event. De Ruyter’s coffin is transported in front of the imposing architecture of Amsterdam's Town Hall and the Nieuwe Kerk. The procession winds its way through the city, watched by crowds, and is intended to communicate a particular image of civic order and national unity. The Dutch Golden Age was a period of immense cultural and economic flourishing. By commissioning and circulating images like this, the ruling classes were able to shape public opinion. Historians of art and culture use sources such as newspapers, pamphlets, and personal letters to reconstruct the context in which such images were made and consumed. By looking closely, we can better understand the complex relationship between art, power, and society.