Deel van de optocht, nr. 8 1559

Joannes van Doetechum created this engraving, "Deel van de optocht, nr. 8," sometime in the late 16th century. The print gives us a glimpse into the elaborate rituals and social hierarchies of the European Renaissance. Here, we see a procession of men, each meticulously identified by name and title, parading with horses adorned in heraldic livery. Consider the performance of masculinity on display: the rigid postures, the controlled movements, and the opulent costumes, all carefully constructed to project an image of power and status. But what about those who are absent from this picture? The women, the laborers, the colonized peoples whose lives and labor supported this spectacle of wealth and power? This image serves as a reminder that history is never a complete or neutral narrative. It is always a partial and constructed account, shaped by the perspectives and interests of those in power. As we look at this parade, let’s think critically about who is included, who is excluded, and what stories remain untold.