Zeiltocht van Willem V en Wilhelmina van Pruisen op het IJ, 1768 1769 - 1773

Simon Fokke created this print of Willem V and Wilhelmina of Prussia’s sailing trip on the IJ in 1768. The composition, bustling with activity, is divided into three horizontal bands: the foreground with onlookers, the middle ground with ships, and the sky above. The orderly arrangement of the scene is striking; the artist uses a formal structure to depict a public celebration. Note how Fokke employs line and form to create depth, with the receding ships drawing our eyes toward the horizon. This structure echoes the Enlightenment’s emphasis on reason, seeking to bring order to human understanding. The use of light and shadow, though subtle, highlights the social hierarchy with Willem V and Wilhelmina at its center. Ultimately, the print serves not merely as a record of an event, but as a structured representation of power and social order.