Vaandel der Stedelijke Schutterij van Utrecht 1835 - 1850

This drawing of the Standard of the Utrecht Civic Guard was made by Albertus Verhoesen. Its miniature scale draws our attention to the detailed rendering of the guard. The flag in the center commands our attention as its bold text frames a coat of arms, enclosed within a laurel wreath. The guard, with his dark blue coat and striking white sash, seems to stand at attention. Verhoesen masterfully directs the interplay between the guard and the flag. The verticality of the flagpole is echoed in the soldier's erect posture, which serves to visually reinforce his role as protector of the flag. In semiotic terms, the flag is a signifier of complex cultural values of nationhood, loyalty and civic pride, and this is translated through the artist’s precise formal composition. This meticulous approach challenges fixed meanings and engages with new ways of thinking about space and representation.