Ontwerp voor gedenkbord van de KPM bij de geboorte van prinses Juliana in 1909 1909

Carel Adolph Lion Cachet made this design for a commemorative plate for the KPM shipping company, on the occasion of Princess Juliana's birth in 1909. The image is a study in how institutions mobilize cultural symbols to reinforce their authority. Note the prominent heraldic lions and crowns of the Dutch monarchy, visually linking the KPM to the royal family. This was a period of nation-building in the Netherlands, with institutions like the KPM playing a key role in projecting Dutch power overseas. The design reflects the cultural values of the Dutch colonial project. The KPM was vital to maintaining trade routes and communications across the Dutch East Indies. By commissioning this commemorative plate, the company sought to align itself with Dutch national identity and the prestige of the monarchy. To fully understand this design, one could research the KPM's history, Dutch colonial policies, and the role of royal imagery in early 20th-century Dutch visual culture. The meaning of art is always contingent on its social and institutional context.