Maskerade door studenten van de Leidse Hogeschool, 1840 (titelblad) 1840

This title page, made in 1840 by Jacobus Ludovicus Cornet, advertises a masquerade put on by students of Leiden University. It depicts the entry of Duke John of Bavaria into Leiden, an event that actually took place in 1420. In the Dutch Golden Age, historical pageants and processions were common forms of public expression. These events frequently took on a political character, either supporting or gently critiquing the ruling powers through performance. Here we see the students re-enacting history, perhaps to celebrate local traditions, maybe even to comment on the contemporary political landscape. Universities were, and remain, key cultural institutions that can function as sites of social commentary. To understand the full meaning of this piece, historians might investigate student life in Leiden at the time, examining the university's curriculum, the social backgrounds of the students, and the political debates of the day. The meaning of art is always rooted in specific social and institutional contexts.