Wapen van Willem IV, prins van Oranje-Nassau 1748

Pieter Yver created this image of the coat of arms of William IV, Prince of Orange-Nassau using etching techniques. In the mid-18th century, heraldry wasn't just about identifying nobility; it symbolized power, lineage, and national identity. The Dutch Republic, despite its republican ideals, still carried the weight of its aristocratic past. William IV’s coat of arms represents this intersection of tradition and political reality. Consider how symbols like crowns and lions evoke power, yet are rendered through the delicate, accessible medium of etching. Yver’s choice to create a print also speaks to the broader distribution of such imagery, making symbols of authority available for public consumption. The mottoes in French, "Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense" and "Je Maintiendrai," translate to "Shame on him who thinks evil of it" and "I will maintain," reflecting a need to assert legitimacy and project strength. Think about the emotional resonance these symbols might have had during a time of political and social change, and what they continue to represent today.