Leden van Gedeputeerde Staten van Friesland in de begrafenisstoet van prinses Maria Louise, 1765 1765

Rienk Jelgerhuis created this print titled 'Members of the States Deputed of Friesland in the funeral procession of Princess Maria Louise' in 1765. In somber attire, these figures become symbolic of the intersection of power, identity, and ritual in 18th-century Frisian society. We see a clear visual hierarchy, reflective of the social structures of the time. The members of the States Deputed, cloaked and hatted, are followed by their retinue and a group of six bailiffs. The procession and its participants reflect the rigid gender and class norms of the era. There are no women in the procession except the deceased. The very act of creating and circulating images like these reinforced the status quo, reminding viewers of their place within a highly stratified society. While seemingly a straightforward depiction of a funeral procession, Jelgerhuis's print invites us to consider the ways in which public rituals serve to reinforce existing power structures. It prompts us to reflect on who is included and excluded from these displays of mourning and remembrance.