De begrafenisstoet van Frederik Hendrik (plaat nr. 13), 1647 1647 - 1651

This is plate 13 of Pieter Nolpe’s etching of Frederick Henry’s funeral procession, made in the Netherlands in 1647. Nolpe's work embodies the public role of art in the Dutch Golden Age, where imagery was deeply intertwined with politics. The print meticulously documents the elaborate ceremony, emphasizing the social hierarchy and power structures of the time through its visual codes. Note how each figure is carefully labeled, often with their noble titles, emphasizing the importance of lineage and social standing in the Dutch Republic. The procession itself was an institutional spectacle, carefully orchestrated to reinforce the authority of the House of Orange. As historians, we delve into archives, scrutinize contemporary accounts, and analyze visual culture to understand better the socio-political context that gave rise to this work. Nolpe's print, therefore, serves as a window into the intricate relationship between art, power, and society in 17th-century Netherlands.