Grafmonument van Willem V, prins van Oranje-Nassau 1806 - 1852

Christian Forssell created this print of Willem V's grave monument in the late 18th or early 19th century, a period marked by significant political upheaval and changing social structures. Forsell made this print as the reverberations of the French Revolution echoed across Europe. The image presents Willem V’s memorial as a site where personal grief meets public mourning. The allegorical figures arranged around the tomb offer insight into the ideals and values against which Willem V's reign was measured. Female figures embodying virtues like piety and remembrance flank the monument, while a mother and children grieve at the base, symbolizing the loss felt by the Dutch people. The print creates a space for reflection on leadership and national identity during a time of political transition. It invites us to consider how monuments shape our collective memory and understanding of the past.