Begrafenis van wijlen koning Willem II te Delft op 4 april 1849 (blad 2) 1849

This anonymous drawing captures the somber funeral of King Willem II in Delft, April 4, 1849. Observe the figures cloaked in mourning attire, a sea of black echoing rituals across time. The procession, arranged almost as a frieze, evokes ancient traditions of honouring the departed. The riders on horseback, and the flag bearer, are symbols of leadership and legacy, carrying the weight of history forward. Consider the universality of mourning: the black attire, the solemn procession, motifs that transcend borders and epochs. These recurring symbols remind us of our shared human experience and collective memory. The image’s power lies not just in its historical specificity, but in its resonance with timeless expressions of loss and remembrance.