Portretten van Willem V van Oranje en Wilhelmina van Pruisen 1767

Daniel Nikolaus Chodowiecki made this print of Willem V of Orange and Wilhelmina of Prussia using etching around 1786. It demonstrates the public role of art in legitimizing the ruling class. Here, the dual portrait of Willem and Wilhelmina is presented within an oval frame adorned with floral garlands, symbolizing virtue and harmony. This imagery creates a sense of dynastic stability at a time of growing social and political tensions in the Netherlands. As Stadtholder, Willem V was the figurehead of a government increasingly seen as out of touch with the Dutch population. The print was produced in Berlin and likely intended for distribution within elite circles, reinforcing loyalty to the House of Orange. The decision to create a print speaks to the broader social conditions shaping artistic production. Understanding this image requires us to research the political climate of the Dutch Republic in the late 18th century, using pamphlets, newspapers, and other archival materials to grasp the nuances of its visual language. The meaning of art is always contingent on its social and institutional context.