Leden van de hoffelijke administratie in de lijkstoet van Anna van Hannover te Delft, 1759 1759 - 1761

This is a 1759 etching by Simon Fokke, now at the Rijksmuseum, depicting the funeral procession of Anna van Hannover in Delft. The somber scene unfolds with stark formality, its power lying in its rigorous composition of repetitive forms and shapes. Fokke masterfully uses line and perspective to convey the solemnity of the event. Rows of figures clad in dark robes and hats create a visual rhythm, a cadence that mimics the slow, deliberate pace of a funeral procession. The buildings, rendered with careful detail, stand as silent witnesses, their facades adding a sense of depth and enclosure. The print engages with contemporary ideas about representation and social order. The procession itself is a carefully orchestrated display of power, with each figure’s position signifying their status within the court. It also reflects the Enlightenment’s interest in documenting and classifying the world. Fokke’s work functions as both a historical record and a statement about the social hierarchies of his time. This etching reveals how form and structure can embody cultural values and philosophical ideas.