Optocht met Willem III en Mary naar de kroning in Westminster Abbey, 1689 1689

Samuel Moore created this print in 1689, depicting the procession of William III and Mary to their coronation in Westminster Abbey. It's an event steeped in political and religious upheaval, following the Glorious Revolution that ousted James II. The print showcases the rigid hierarchy of English society at the time, with each rank carefully delineated by dress and position. Gender roles are equally pronounced, with Mary playing a symbolic role alongside her husband. But consider the irony: while she is a queen, her power is shared, a reflection of the complex negotiations around female authority in the late 17th century. The procession becomes a stage, performing power and legitimacy for a nation still reeling from revolution. Looking at this piece, I am struck by the tension between spectacle and vulnerability, as the monarchy sought to reassert itself amidst profound social change.