Namenlijst van de intekenaren op de prentserie van de inhaling van Willem V en Wilhelmina van Pruisen te Amsterdam, 1768 1773

This list of subscribers for prints of Willem V and Wilhelmina of Prussia's arrival in Amsterdam in 1768, made by Johannes Smit, displays names as symbols of power and social connection. The ordered names aren't just identifiers; they represent a community eager to align themselves with the ruling house of Orange-Nassau. Consider how lists have appeared in various cultures across time. From ancient Egyptian tax records to the guest lists of Renaissance banquets, they have served as both practical documents and displays of social standing. Here, the act of subscribing becomes a public declaration, linking each name to the prestige of the House of Orange. Such lists touch the subconscious, invoking a potent mix of aspiration, memory, and social anxiety. The simple act of seeing one’s name recorded can stir deep feelings of belonging or exclusion. This psychological weight transforms an ordinary document into a powerful symbolic artifact. This ordered compilation of names transcends its era, echoing through history as a symbol of social connections and power dynamics. It represents the continuous, evolving relationship between individuals and the structures that shape their identities.