Kostumen en vaandels van de erewachten van 's-Gravenhage en Rotterdam, 1840-1842 1840 - 1842

This print, made circa 1840-1842 by an anonymous artist, depicts the ceremonial costumes and flags of the honor guards of The Hague and Rotterdam. It offers a glimpse into the spectacle of 19th-century Dutch civic pride. The honor guards and their elaborate attire represent a carefully constructed image of national identity. We see the ways in which symbols of authority and tradition, like military uniforms and city flags, were used to reinforce social hierarchies. It's hard not to consider the role of these displays in shaping public sentiment and maintaining order, during a time of considerable social and political change. What does it mean to witness such a display of power and pageantry? How might the experience differ depending on one’s position within the social order? The artist prompts us to consider the emotional impact of such displays. The print leaves us to consider how civic rituals function to create a shared sense of belonging and collective identity.