Toegangsbewijs voor de inhuldiging van koning Willem III, 1849 1849

Editor: Here we have an engraving from 1849, "Toegangsbewijs voor de inhuldiging van koning Willem III," or "Admission Ticket for the Inauguration of King Willem III." The print features some elaborate typography and heraldic symbols. It’s a relatively small, unassuming object, but it hints at the grand historical event it was connected to. How do you interpret this work beyond its function as a mere ticket? Curator: It’s tempting to dismiss this as ephemera, but this unassuming "ticket" presents an opportunity to interrogate the very theater of power. Think about who was granted access and who was excluded. What does "de Ellendige Steeg," or "Miserable Alley," as the entrance imply about social hierarchies even at a moment celebrating national unity? Editor: So, the location of the entrance reveals something about the social strata present at the inauguration? Curator: Exactly. Consider the phrase “Je Maintiendrai" on the Dutch coat of arms - "I will maintain." Who gets to define what is maintained, and at whose expense? What stories aren't told on this piece of paper? A seemingly simple print becomes a lens through which we can examine 19th-century Dutch society and its power dynamics. We can draw connections to today’s access to power, privilege, and how such exclusion is perpetuated through institutional structures. What about the typography strikes you? Editor: Well, it is certainly ornamental and eye-catching, perhaps hinting at the glorification of the monarchy. But I now see how it is more than just decoration. Thank you for unveiling how this “simple” print reflects society’s power dynamics and questions of inclusion and exclusion. Curator: Precisely. Everyday objects like this access ticket act as powerful conduits for understanding the historical, social, and political structures that shape our world.