Utrechtse maskerade van 1886 (derde plaat) 1886

Anthony Grolman created this print in 1886, presenting a visual procession through Utrecht's history. The composition is structured by horizontal bands, grounding our eye across the parade of figures, from the musketeers and standard-bearers at the left to the civic dignitaries to the right. Each figure is rendered with attention to their distinct costumes, but the repetition of forms—hats, ruffs, and weaponry—creates an undulating rhythm of shapes that leads the eye across the entire tableau. Color plays a vital role here. The earthy tones of the garb, punctuated by muted blues and reds, suggest a sense of historical authenticity. The formal arrangement of this work invites us to consider how images construct and convey narratives about cultural identity. What values and ideals are on display here? How does Grolman’s formal ordering of the scene lend itself to specific ideological claims?