Begrafenisstoet van aartshertog Albrecht (plaat XXXIII), 1622 1623

Cornelis Galle I created this print, "Begrafenisstoet van aartshertog Albrecht" or "Funeral Procession of Archduke Albrecht," in 1622. Galle was part of a prominent family of engravers in Antwerp, a city which, at this time, was under the governance of Archduke Albrecht. This piece documents the elaborate funeral procession of a high-ranking member of the Habsburg family during a period of intense political and religious conflict in Europe. Funerals of prominent rulers were not only occasions for mourning but also significant political theater. They were carefully staged to project power, legitimize authority, and reinforce social hierarchies. The Habsburgs, as staunch defenders of Catholicism, used such events to showcase their piety and commitment to the faith during the Counter-Reformation. Galle's detailed rendering of the procession offers insight into the rigid social structure of the time, with each participant carefully positioned to reflect their status. This print also reflects the personal and emotional dimensions of mourning within the context of royal power. It captures a moment of transition and remembrance and serves as a poignant reminder of the human element within the grand narratives of history and power.