Willem V, prins van Oranje-Nassau 1787 - 1795

This silver pendant, currently held in the Rijksmuseum, features Willem V, Prince of Orange-Nassau. His profile, meticulously rendered, embodies the ideals of leadership, power, and authority. The profile portrait, an emblem of power since antiquity, echoes in Roman coins and Renaissance medals, each carrying the weight of cultural memory. The act of portraying a ruler in profile hearkens back to a primal impulse to immortalize leadership, tracing a lineage that connects ancient emperors to figures like Willem V. This echoes the continuous human endeavor to capture and preserve the essence of power and authority for posterity. Consider, too, how the very gesture of profile—a deliberate choice to show only one side—mirrors our selective perception of leaders. This connects to a deeper, subconscious yearning for guidance and stability embodied by the individual. It appears, vanishes, and reappears, a testament to our enduring fascination with those who shape our world.