Begrafenisstoet van Anna Paulowna (blad 5), 1865 1865

This is an 1865 drawing of Anna Paulowna's funeral procession by an anonymous artist. Observe the somber assembly of men, unified in dark attire, and the lone figure on horseback bearing a standard. The grouping of mourners, heads bowed, echoes images of classical friezes depicting scenes of sacrifice or lamentation. But consider the standard-bearer: This motif, a figure on horseback displaying a symbol of power or identity, resurfaces throughout history. From Roman military standards to medieval heraldry, these emblems represent authority and lineage. It's a powerful image, meant to be seen and remembered. Here, its presence serves to underscore the solemnity of the occasion. Note how the anonymity of the figures amplifies the sense of collective grief and respect. These men, united in mourning, become symbols themselves, representing the wider community touched by Anna Paulowna's passing. It's this cyclical progression—from personal sorrow to public display, from individual to archetype—that reveals the enduring power of such images.