Feest-Lied, bij de Plegtige Inhuldiging van Z.M. Willem III. (...) 12 Mei 1849 1849

This is a song sheet, printed in 1849 by the widow C. Kok-van Kolm, to celebrate the inauguration of Willem III as King of the Netherlands. These kinds of festive prints capture a time of national pride, but also reveal a lot about the role of women in 19th century Dutch society. Consider, for example, that it was a female owned publishing house that produced this tribute to the new king. Yet, despite her role as a business owner, Kok-van Kolm remains anonymous, referred to only as ‘widow’. The sheet itself is a carefully designed piece of propaganda, pairing the portraits of the new King and Queen. The lyrics express a hope for the King to “...rule us furthermore, with love and wise policy.” This song sheet reminds us how gender, class and social status were carefully negotiated and performed in the public sphere. It serves as a reminder of the complex layers of identity at play during the creation and reception of this ceremonial piece.