En Vægter 1820

Gerhard Ludvig Lahde created this print of a Copenhagen night watchman sometime before 1833. The watchman, staff in hand, is a potent symbol. His gesture to the right, pointing away from himself, suggests direction but also a warding off—a protection against the unseen. Consider how the staff he carries, topped with a spiked ball, echoes symbols of power and authority stretching back to antiquity. From the scepter of a Roman centurion to the ceremonial maces of medieval guards, such objects have always signified dominion and control. The gesture of pointing can be seen in countless Renaissance paintings, often employed by figures guiding the viewer or indicating divine intervention, a motif that lost sacred weight over time and was resignified to everyday life. There's a primal need for security, a collective memory of vulnerability in the dark that resonates deeply. This print thus captures a moment, fixing it in time, but also echoes through the ages, a testament to our enduring quest for safety.