Menu van de reüniemaaltijd van oud-cadetten van de Koninklijke Militaire Academie before 1887

This is a menu designed for a reunion dinner of former cadets from the Koninklijke Militaire Academie, or Royal Military Academy, printed in 1885. This lithograph gives insight into the world of the Dutch military elite in the late 19th century. The dinner itself was likely a celebration of shared experiences and camaraderie within a specific social class. The elaborate, masculine design – replete with heraldry, weaponry, and patriotic symbols – underscores a culture of honor, duty, and national pride. While visually impressive, the imagery also speaks to the exclusion inherent in such institutions. Notice how the composition reinforces notions of power and privilege, and how the menu might have served to solidify a sense of identity among the cadets, based on shared social standing and military service. Consider how this artwork, while seemingly a simple piece of ephemera, reveals the complex interplay between food, identity, and social structures.