Ruiterescorte op het Frederiksplein te Amsterdam tijdens de intocht van koningin Wilhelmina 1898 - 1899

Barend Groote captured this photograph of Queen Wilhelmina's entrance into Amsterdam on the Frederiksplein. The dominant visual symbol here is the procession itself—a motif deeply rooted in the human psyche, resonating with collective memory and the subconscious need for order and leadership. Historically, processions have served as powerful displays of authority. We see echoes of Roman triumphs, medieval royal entries, and religious pilgrimages. These images of power evoke both awe and submission. The orderly lines of soldiers and the adoring crowd point to a society structured by hierarchy. The act of parading, so prominent here, echoes through time, even in our own contemporary parades and demonstrations. While the specifics may change, the underlying psychology remains: a desire for communal identity and a deep-seated need for symbolic representation of power and unity. The image taps into a primordial impulse, evoking a sense of collective identity and belonging.