Vaandel der 1e Ban Landelijke Schut.ij van Groningen 1835 - 1850

Curator: Here at the Rijksmuseum, we're looking at "Vaandel der 1e Ban Landelijke Schutterij van Groningen," a drawing made with pen somewhere between 1835 and 1850. The artist is Albertus Verhoesen. Editor: The flag, wow, it dominates everything. Such a formal figure, but the slightly clumsy execution gives it a weirdly innocent, naive charm. Curator: Well, banners like these aren't merely decorative. They’re powerful symbols of identity and allegiance, echoing historical narratives. What do you make of the symbolism at play? Editor: Groningen's coat of arms smack in the middle, right? Representing autonomy and heritage. The flag’s colors suggest Dutch patriotism, even if it’s faded a little now. All very deliberate image-making for morale. Curator: Precisely. Think about the symbolic power imbued in military uniforms. The crisp lines and imposing stature speak to order, discipline, and preparedness. He embodies an ideal. The pen and ink medium itself, offers a sense of precision, control. Editor: It feels like propaganda to me, even on this miniature scale. Heroic imagery used to make war sound noble? And this stiff soldier, this isn’t really about him as a person is it? It’s the idea he represents. Curator: Though history painting is suggested as a theme, it is the portraiture element of the work which interests me most. To your point, it is more about who this man represents, than who he is individually. Editor: This work makes me consider a couple of ideas that might otherwise remain concealed to the first-time viewer: how cultural artifacts, even "minor" works such as these, embody power and communicate political intent. Curator: Absolutely. Consider that seemingly simple object that's charged with centuries of cultural, political, and psychological significance, passed from artist to viewer. Editor: Thinking about visual symbolism gets under your skin!