Vertrek van de prinses van Oranje naar Engeland, 1795 1795

This print, made by Hendrik Roosing around 1795, depicts the departure of the Princess of Orange for England. Note the chests being loaded onto the boats, symbols of both tangible wealth and intangible hopes for the future. The act of departure itself is a powerful motif, resonating with countless historical and mythological narratives. Think of Aeneas fleeing Troy, laden with the symbols of a lost civilization, or even the biblical exodus from Egypt. Here, in this scene, the princess embodies a similar transition, carrying the legacy of her lineage into an uncertain future. The image is charged with a sense of anticipation and anxiety, a potent mix that speaks to our own experiences of change and displacement. The princess's departure is not just a physical journey, it's a symbolic one, laden with cultural and emotional significance. It speaks to the cyclical nature of history, where endings often presage new beginnings, and where the past is both a burden and a guide.