Schuttersbiljet van kapitein Johan van Soestdijk met allegorie op Holland en schutterij 1762 - 1777

Barent de Bakker made this print, Schuttersbiljet van kapitein Johan van Soestdijk met allegorie op Holland en schutterij, using etching. It’s a membership certificate for the Civic Guard, likely produced in the late 18th century, given the 1747 date. Prints like this are fascinating objects for historians. In the Dutch Republic, the Civic Guard wasn't just about military defense; it was a social and political institution. Note the allegorical figures: they represent civic virtues but also the cultural values of the Dutch Republic. The female figures of freedom, commerce, and religion underscore the social contract on which the Guard, and by extension Dutch society, was based. By comparing these prints, we can learn much about the shifting values of Dutch society in a period of economic decline and political tension. You can explore archival records of the Civic Guard, genealogical databases, and period newspapers, or compare prints in different collections to understand the historical context of this artwork.