Album bij het nationaal huldeblijk bij het huwelijk van prins He4ndrik en prinses Maria, 1878 1879 - 1880

This is an image of an album commemorating the marriage of Prince Hendrik and Princess Maria in 1878, made in the Netherlands by an unknown artist. It is interesting to observe how royal power is presented visually during this period, especially in the wake of revolutionary movements across Europe. We can see repeated heraldic emblems and symbolic crowns alongside a central emblem bearing the date of the wedding. Royal weddings are key political moments in which rulers attempt to unite the nation behind them and secure their place in the popular imagination. How did the rising middle classes view such displays of royal power? Were they seen as anachronistic or were they accepted as part of the social order? In order to gain more insights, we can consult newspaper archives and pamphlets from this period to help us understand the public’s attitude to the monarchy and the way it was represented visually.