Ruiterportret van Willem II, koning der Nederlanden 1816

This engraving depicts Willem II, King of the Netherlands, and was created by Jacob Ernst Marcus, a Dutch artist active in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. It offers insight into the construction of power and identity in the Netherlands during a period of significant political change, when images were deployed to solidify the monarchy following the Napoleonic era. Willem II is presented as a heroic figure, embodying strength and leadership on horseback. Yet, this image also evokes questions around the politics of representation. Whose stories are being told and whose are being left out? How might this image function to reinforce existing social hierarchies? Consider the emotional impact of this image. Does it evoke feelings of national pride, or does it prompt a more critical reflection on the legacies of power and privilege? Such images remind us that history is always a complex and contested narrative.