Medaillon met Vrijwillige Jagers der Utrechtse Hogeschool, 1830 1830

Michel Mourot created this print, "Medaillon met Vrijwillige Jagers der Utrechtse Hogeschool," around 1830. The composition is dominated by a central medallion, its golden frame acting as both a container and a separator between the portrait of soldiers and symbolic elements. The arrangement of objects and figures creates a complex visual language. Flags, weaponry, and laurel wreaths, all meticulously rendered, act as signs within a structured semiotic system. The layering of these elements—the soldiers in the foreground, the weaponry at the base, and the allegorical figures above—presents a hierarchy of values. The eye is drawn not only to the realistic depiction of the soldiers, but also to the symbols of nationhood, heroism, and the readiness for war, carefully arranged to convey a sense of order and national pride. Notice how the artist uses line and form to achieve a balanced yet dynamic composition. This structured approach invites us to consider how visual elements combine to construct a narrative of military virtue. The print invites contemplation on how these symbols of strength and resolve functioned within the visual culture of the time.