De dodelijke val van Willem III tijdens een jachtpartij, 1702 1853 - 1855

This anonymous print from 1702 captures the mortal fall of William III during a hunt, a scene brimming with symbols of power, vulnerability, and fate. The fallen king, surrounded by worried courtiers, echoes the classical motif of the tragic hero brought down from his heights. Note the hunting horn, typically a symbol of aristocratic leisure and control over nature, now appears impotent, unable to prevent the unfolding tragedy. The faithful hounds, traditionally emblems of loyalty, add a poignant note to the scene. This motif of the hunt, interwoven with themes of mortality, reappears across cultures. Think of Actaeon, transformed and hunted by his own hounds. The act of the hunt is a dance between hunter and hunted, and here, death claims the ultimate prize, evoking primal fears and reminding us of life's fragility.