Prinses van Oranje aangehouden te Goejanverwellesluis, 1787 1787

Mathias de Sallieth created this print titled 'Prinses van Oranje aangehouden te Goejanverwellesluis' in 1787, referencing a very specific event. This print captures the moment Princess Wilhelmina of Prussia was detained by Patriot militia near Goejanverwellesluis, a pivotal event that heightened tensions between the Patriots and Orangists in the Dutch Republic. As the wife of Stadtholder William V, Wilhelmina was not merely a figurehead; she was actively involved in politics, and her detention was a deliberate act of defiance by the Patriots, challenging the authority of the Orange regime. The image places us in a tavern, a public yet confined space, filled with armed men. The Princess's absence is palpable, her presence evoked only by the tension in the room. The composition tells a story of power, gender, and political upheaval, reflecting the deep divisions within Dutch society at the time. This print immortalizes a moment of crisis, capturing the fragility of power and the courage of a woman who dared to assert her influence in a world dominated by men.