Magistraat van Leeuwarden in de begrafenisstoet van prinses Maria Louise, 1765 1765

Rienk Jelgerhuis made this print in 1765, depicting the magistrates of Leeuwarden in the funeral procession of Princess Maria Louise. It offers a window into the social and political hierarchies of the Dutch Republic. Notice how the image emphasizes the magistrates' civic role through their formal attire and orderly procession. Their clothing signals the authority of their office within the local government. The setting is suggestive of the spatial and ceremonial aspects of political life in eighteenth-century Leeuwarden. The composition, with its emphasis on order and rank, subtly reinforces the existing social structure. To fully appreciate this print, one might research the history of Leeuwarden's government and the role of civic rituals. Such resources reveal how this image participated in constructing and maintaining social order. Ultimately, this artwork underscores that even seemingly simple images are embedded in complex institutional histories.