Vaandeldrager van 't 1e Batt. 2e Afd: Mobiele Schutterij der prov. Overijssel 1835 - 1850

Albertus Verhoesen created this watercolor drawing of a standard-bearer in the Dutch Mobile Civic Guard. Though undated, the uniform suggests it probably dates from the 1830s. Following the Napoleonic era, the Netherlands sought to re-establish its national identity. Civic guard units were a visible symbol of local patriotism and public order during this period of nation-building. The flag he carries displays the name of the province of Overijssel, a regional division that, like the civic guard itself, had its identity redefined during the 19th century. These images, made in the early days of mass media, circulated in print form and helped standardize ideas about national dress and military bearing. One can consult regimental records, fashion plates, and museum collections of military artifacts to gain a deeper understanding of what these symbols meant at the time. Art like this is a reminder that civic identity is always a constructed and contested thing.