Koning Willem de Veroveraar en een heraut 1584

Hendrick Goltzius made this print, "Koning Willem de Veroveraar en een heraut", depicting William the Conqueror and a herald. Goltzius was a leading printmaker of the late 16th century, an era defined by religious conflict and the rise of powerful monarchies. Here, Goltzius presents us with figures of authority. On the right stands William, armed for battle, a symbol of military might and conquest. To his left, the herald, adorned with symbols of power and carrying objects suggesting governance. These symbols of power and conquest were anything but neutral. What does it mean to bear witness to such symbols today? Do they evoke admiration, critical reflection, or perhaps a more complex mixture of both? "Koning Willem de Veroveraar en een heraut" encourages us to engage with the past, and to consider how history shapes our present.