Willem V gevolgd door hofdienaren in de lijkstoet van Anna van Hannover te Delft, 1759 1759 - 1761

Simon Fokke etched this image in 1759, depicting Willem V followed by court officials at Anna van Hannover's funeral procession in Delft. The sombre figures, shrouded in black, evoke a powerful sense of mourning and formality, reflecting the societal customs of the time. Note the recurring motif of veiled figures. Across cultures, veiling symbolizes respect, mourning, or transition. Consider, for instance, ancient Roman funerary practices, where veiled figures marked the passage of the deceased into the afterlife. The symbolic weight of these gestures is not merely historical; it speaks to the profound human need to process loss through ritual. This echoes in different forms across time, engaging viewers on a deeply subconscious level. The cyclical progression of symbols and gestures resurfaces, evolving to take on new meanings in different historical contexts.