Intocht van Willem van Gulik, hertog van Gelre in Nijmegen, 1388 1842 - 1844

Johann Wilhelm Kaiser created this engraving, "Entry of William of Jülich, Duke of Guelders, into Nijmegen, 1388," in the 19th century. It depicts a historical moment through the lens of 19th-century nationalism. The scene captures Duke William's ceremonial entrance, a symbol of power and authority during the late medieval period. However, the work was created during a time of burgeoning national identity, and revivals of the past were often deployed to serve contemporary political agendas. Kaiser, working within this context, might have been seeking to evoke a sense of shared history and cultural pride. Note how the Duke is portrayed – not just as a ruler but as a figure central to the city's narrative. Consider the expressions of the onlookers, a mix of awe and reverence, which speak to the dynamics of power and the construction of leadership. Does this image present a straightforward historical event, or does it offer a constructed vision of the past, shaped by the cultural and political values of Kaiser’s time?