Erepoort op het Buitenhof voor de intrede van Willem V en Wilhelmina van Pruisen, 1767 1768

Dirk van der Aa created this drawing in 1767, depicting the ceremonial gate on the Buitenhof for the entry of Willem V and Wilhelmina of Prussia. Van der Aa, working in the Dutch Republic during the Enlightenment, captures a moment of political theater designed to reinforce the power and legitimacy of the House of Orange. The image presents a triumphal arch, adorned with symbols of power and marital union, it frames a vision of stately elegance. Yet, this display of unity and strength masks underlying tensions within Dutch society. It’s worth considering how gender dynamics play out here, with Wilhelmina positioned as a symbol of both royal power and domestic virtue. Consider too, what is not shown: the economic disparities, the growing calls for democratic reform simmering beneath the surface of the Dutch Republic. In this context, the drawing serves as a reminder of how carefully constructed images can shape perceptions of power, even as they obscure the complexities of lived experience.