Verklaring bij de allegorie ter ere van de koning van Pruisen voor zijn herstel van het stadhouderschap van Willem V, 1788 1789

Editor: So, here we have "Verklaring bij de allegorie ter ere van de koning van Pruisen voor zijn herstel van het stadhouderschap van Willem V," a print made in 1789 by Johannes le Francq van Berkhey, currently at the Rijksmuseum. It’s primarily text, densely packed and framed by ornate borders, made using engraving on paper... It seems incredibly formal, like a historical document. What’s your take? Curator: Ah, it’s fascinating, isn’t it? Forget pixels; this is history rendered in ink! For me, stepping back to the late 1780s, you get a potent whiff of the Dutch Republic’s political turmoil, all those clashing interests and fragile alliances swirling about... This wasn’t just a printed sheet, but a powerful act, a visual performance to shore up a very shaky Orangist regime after Prussian intervention. Does that floral frame strike you as slightly…confining, almost oppressive? Editor: Confining, yes! I hadn’t thought of it that way, but with all that text it really boxes things in. Like a gilded cage for free thought? Curator: Precisely! The neoclassicism in its style points toward reason and order. However, the text details a very specific interpretation of events... and it definitely has a viewpoint, don’t you think? Propaganda, if you like. Do you read Dutch? Editor: Alas, no! But the English title speaks of restoration and allegory, and suggests strong Prussian involvement. Is the text providing an... explanation of the King of Prussia’s role in all this? Curator: Absolutely! It's an apologia, in a way. Berkhey spins a very particular narrative, positioning the King as the hero. It highlights the tensions of the era and questions the very idea of truth versus politically-motivated spin, which doesn't seem far from modern day. What did you gain in these last moments? Editor: I’ve gained a fresh awareness of context. Before it was just 'old writing' but I can feel it and get the vibe. Also, propaganda never goes out of style!