Aankomst van Willem V en Wilhelmina van Pruisen bij de Haarlemmerpoort, 1768 1769 - 1773

Curator: This detailed engraving captures a specific moment in Dutch history: the arrival of Willem V and Wilhelmina of Prussia at the Haarlemmerpoort. Simon Fokke created it sometime between 1769 and 1773. What strikes you most about this image? Editor: Well, first, I'm hit by this overwhelming feeling of organized chaos, if that makes sense. Look at the precision of the lines depicting every single figure and carriage—it’s like controlled documentation—but there's just so much activity crammed into one scene. A real vibrant energy pulses through it. Curator: It does. Fokke meticulously depicts this royal arrival, the scene brimming with onlookers. You get a sense of both the scale of the event and, through the details, the individual reactions. It makes you think about the spectacle, right? Power displayed, people responding. But what does this 'organized chaos' tell us about the period? Editor: It’s a potent visual of power, alright. These depictions often whitewash historical realities. The enthusiastic crowds? They might be there because they truly adored their leaders...or maybe because it was expected. It makes me consider who *isn't* depicted, whose stories are missing in this seemingly complete scene? Were their enthusiastic supporters represented here in any kind of real capacity? Were any of the protestors depicted? Curator: That’s such an important point: this is a very specific perspective, absolutely. Fokke was capturing a specific version of the narrative, literally etching it into permanence. But look closer. There is so much delight! The people, the architecture…even those very precise trees, that for me seem so romantic! A certain kind of joy is communicated, whether intentionally or not. It makes me feel almost nostalgic for a time I didn't even live through! Editor: I can see the nostalgic pull—that curated spectacle has its charms, admittedly! I suppose I’m looking to see how those spectacles impacted everyone, not just the ones waving flags from the bridge. But, yeah, Fokke’s detail *is* impressive and opens avenues of conversation about who and what constitutes history, and where we should look when things aren’t so straightforward. Curator: Absolutely. It’s a window into the past but, as always, one that requires critical thinking. Editor: Exactly. Fokke offers this incredibly detailed, ostensibly celebratory snapshot—leaving us to wonder, what stories lie beyond the frame?