Beschrijving bij de maskerade van de Leidse studenten, 1850 1850

This document by J. Hazenberg Corns Zoon describes a masquerade held by the students of Leiden University in 1850. It commemorates the entry of Frederik Hendrik into 's Hertogenbosch in 1629. Consider the social dynamics within the university at this time. Student masquerades weren't just innocent fun. They reflected and reinforced existing social hierarchies. Who got to participate, and in what roles? Were marginalized groups included, or were they the subject of caricature? The act of costuming itself is an exercise in identity. Students likely used historical figures to comment on contemporary issues. These performances can tell us so much about the values and anxieties of the time. How did these students see themselves in relation to the past, and what vision of the future were they enacting? This document serves as a window into the intersection of education, performance, and social identity in 19th-century Netherlands.