Penning ter gelegenheid van het afleggen van de eed door de schutterij van Utrecht, 1786 1786

This print, made in 1786 by an anonymous artist, commemorates the swearing-in of the Utrecht civic guard. Immediately, the symmetrical composition and the stark contrast between the lettering and the background draws the eye. The design, encased within a rectangular frame, features two prominent circular medals suspended above a decorative banner, lending a sense of formal order. The piece invites a semiotic reading. The medals depict scenes related to civic duty and governance, acting as signs that convey layers of cultural and historical meaning, particularly in relation to the political structures of the time. The arrangement of text and image creates a visual hierarchy, subtly emphasizing the values of governance and civic responsibility. The overall structure of the print embodies a dual function. Aesthetically, the print serves as a commemorative object, but formally, it acts as a vehicle for propagating the values of the ruling government. The combination of image and text invites the viewer to interpret the symbolic meaning of the oath-taking ceremony within the broader context of 18th-century Utrecht society.