Cadetten-almanak 1911

This Cadetten-almanak, printed in 1911 by Naamloze Vennootschap Bredasche Boekh, presents a portrait of a high-ranking military figure on the left, a stoic guardian of order, and a title page on the right marked with the emblem of Dutch royalty. These emblems of power are not confined to the Netherlands of 1912. Across time, similar symbols appear: the eagle of the Roman Empire, the fleur-de-lis of the French monarchy, each a concentrated vessel of authority. These crests, crowns, and martial figures serve as focal points, embodying a state’s collective will. Yet, such symbols also invite scrutiny and subversion; the mask of power is ever vulnerable to the forces of change. Consider the psychological weight of such imagery: the unconscious desires for order and control, the deep-seated fears of chaos, and the ever-present tension between the individual and the state. These are the undercurrents that charge these images with a power that transcends their immediate context. Indeed, symbols such as these progress in a cyclical fashion, recurring in different epochs, undergoing metamorphosis, and accumulating layers of significance with each iteration.