Uniform van de paardenartsen, 1845 1845

Willem Charles Magnenat created this print of a veterinarian's uniform in 1845. The veterinarian’s attire speaks of authority: the dark blue jacket, red trim, and high-collared, narrow-waisted silhouette of the jacket evoke a sense of martial discipline. The hat with its tricolor cockade, a symbol born during the French Revolution, is particularly evocative. This ornament, often seen in depictions of revolutionary figures, signifies allegiance to the values of liberty, equality, and fraternity. Its presence here, in the context of veterinary medicine, suggests a revolutionary approach to animal care. Consider how these symbols—once emblems of societal upheaval—have been adopted and adapted. Just as the serpent entwined around a staff evolves from the caduceus of Hermes to the symbol of medicine, so too does the tricolor cockade transition from a symbol of political revolution to one of professional identity. In both cases, the original symbol is imbued with new meaning, yet retains a whisper of its past.