Overwinning van Willem III aan de Boyne, 1690 1864 - 1866

Johannes Arnoldus Boland made this print, “Overwinning van Willem III aan de Boyne, 1690,” sometime near the turn of the 20th century. Here we see the representation of a watershed moment in Anglo-Irish history. The Battle of the Boyne has become an emblem of Protestant ascendancy and British rule, particularly in Northern Ireland. Boland, working centuries after the event, situates himself within a visual culture deeply entwined with political and religious identities. What does it mean to memorialize a battle so intimately tied to sectarian division? This image doesn't just depict a historical event; it actively participates in the ongoing construction of identity and power. The act of memorializing, of visually re-presenting such a contentious moment, speaks volumes about the artist's own position and the cultural narratives he seeks to perpetuate. Ultimately, this print is a stark reminder of how history is never truly past, but is constantly re-imagined and re-inscribed through art, shaping our understanding of who we are and where we come from.