Inhuldiging van Willem den 1sten te Brussel, den 21 September 1815 (Trein.) / Inauguration de Guillaume 1er à Bruxelles, le 21 Septembre 1815. (Cortège.) 1825 - 1826

Louis Philibert Debucourt captured Willem I’s inauguration in Brussels on September 21, 1815, with delicate lines. Dominating the scene is the royal carriage, a powerful symbol of state authority, drawn by horses, themselves ancient symbols of power and nobility. The motif of the royal procession, laden with cultural memory, echoes through history, from Roman triumphs to Renaissance entries. Each repetition reinvents the symbolism, yet the core message of authority remains. The very act of coronation is a powerful gesture, deeply rooted in the human psyche. It speaks to our primal need for order and leadership, a theme that has resonated in art across millennia. The image also contains dogs running freely; a symbol often associated with loyalty and domesticity. This juxtaposition, of the controlled procession with the wildness of the hounds, reveals the complex psychological forces at play in shaping the image of kingship. We see here how symbols resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings across historical contexts.