Schutterij te paard van s'Gravenhage 1835 - 1850

Editor: Here we have "Schutterij te paard van s'Gravenhage," dating from 1835 to 1850, made with watercolor on paper, and attributed to Albertus Verhoesen. It gives a somewhat formal and quaint impression. What strikes you when you view this image? Curator: Oh, this! It’s like stepping into a toy soldier's dream, isn't it? The crispness of the uniform, the almost cartoonish rendering of the horse—it's both charming and faintly unsettling. Makes you wonder if Verhoesen was poking a bit of fun at the pomposity of the militia, doesn’t it? Editor: Poking fun? I didn’t think of that. I was seeing it as just a record of the time, perhaps romanticized a bit. Curator: Perhaps both? Look at the detail lavished on the uniform versus the horse – almost an afterthought. I’d wager he found the human subject more engaging than the beast! The high contrast adds drama but the washes of color soften it, like a fond memory fading at the edges. Tell me, does it remind you of anything specific? Editor: It reminds me of a page from a children's book of fairy tales. Is the stiffness typical of military portraits of this time, or does that contribute to a sense of humour as well? Curator: Good point about the fairy tales, and yes, the rigidity does seem a tad exaggerated, don't you think? It almost gives off a 'cardboard cut-out' vibe! That's a very canny observation regarding humor. I believe this lends a very interesting quality. Editor: I see it now, thank you for pointing that out to me. The piece now appears very clever! Curator: Ah, isn't it wonderful how art reveals its secrets with just a little nudge? We both now view the "Schutterij" as somewhat amusing. The beauty is it may also contain a profound comment regarding how power expresses itself at the moment in question.