Zevende slede 1776

This print, made by Nicolaas van der Worm, depicts a procession of people being pulled in a horse-drawn sleigh. The image is filled with visual codes and cultural references that give us a sense of the social environment in which it was made. Created in the Netherlands, we can tell from the costumes and architecture that this image depicts a scene from the 17th or 18th century. It is likely that this artwork would have served a public role in the Netherlands at the time, especially as part of civic celebrations. The politics of imagery are clear: with all its pomp, the image seems designed to convey a sense of civic pride. As historians, we can interpret this image more deeply by examining a wide range of resources, including historical texts, costume books, and accounts of Dutch civic rituals. By studying these resources, we can gain a better understanding of how art both reflects and shapes social and institutional contexts.