Allegorie op de inhuldiging van Willem I Frederik, koning der Nederlanden, op het Koningsplein te Brussel op 21 september 1815 1815 - 1817

This wash drawing commemorates the inauguration of Willem the First as King of the Netherlands in Brussels in September 1815. It presents the event as a carefully staged allegory. Made by an anonymous artist, it visually unites the Northern and Southern Netherlands by including symbolic figures and emblems that were meaningful to both regions. The Dutch Lion, representing the Northern Netherlands, is led by a woman in classical robes, who symbolizes the Southern Netherlands. Together they ascend the steps toward a bust of Willem, while figures from both regions offer wreaths of laurel. The artist is clearly trying to present a unified, harmonious vision of the newly formed kingdom. What makes this artwork significant is its institutional context. Created shortly after the end of Napoleonic rule, it’s a piece of political propaganda meant to legitimize Willem's reign and solidify the union between the Netherlands and Belgium. Examining sources from the period, such as official records and public announcements, can reveal how these images were used to shape public opinion. We can better understand the public role of art by paying closer attention to the social conditions that shape artistic production.