Wapen van Engeland, gedragen bij de verkiezing van Willem IV tot stadhouder, 1747 1747

This print, made in 1747 by an anonymous artist, depicts the coat of arms used at the election of Willem IV as stadtholder. The image creates meaning through familiar visual codes. The crowned lions, for example, function as symbols of power. We see the cultural references of the time. The Dutch Republic in 1747 was undergoing political shifts. The office of Stadtholder had become hereditary under the House of Orange, leading to increased centralisation. This print is a political artefact reflecting these social conditions. It celebrates Willem IV's election, aligning him with the historical power of the English monarchy. Understanding this print requires an art historian to research Dutch politics in the 18th century and the visual languages of political imagery. The meaning of art is always contingent on social and institutional contexts.