Vaandel van het 1e Bat. 2e Afd. Noordhol: Schut.ij 1835 - 1850

Curator: It has a theatrical air. Like a figure from a toy soldier set, the watercolor seems so precise. Editor: Precisely! What we see is “Vaandel van het 1e Bat. 2e Afd. Noordhol: Schut.ij,” attributed to Albertus Verhoesen and created sometime between 1835 and 1850. It’s ink and watercolor on paper. Look closely, and you can see how the materials and production signal something deeper. The figure almost emerges from the white. Curator: Yes, from a symbolic perspective, this white background intensifies the symbolic charge. It isolates him—this standard bearer. We are led to study his iconography, especially those dual lions crowned beneath the written declaration on the banner he holds high. Editor: Interesting how this work challenges artistic boundaries! Is it an official record, or a romantic depiction, a careful piece of documentation of a specific unit’s apparel? Think about who commissioned such a work and what their intention was in having such painstaking detail recorded. Curator: The meticulously rendered costume suggests a celebration of civic or national pride. Observe his ornate hat and saber, along with the very deliberate hand placement. All speaks of power and a commitment to the values of that heraldic standard. Editor: Precisely! Consider, though, the function. Prints were easier to distribute than unique paintings. Perhaps the intended wide dissemination served as an early form of military recruitment, or helped reinforce a new national consciousness? Curator: Such dissemination also strengthens the symbolic weight of these figures—this standard bearer now representing all in the company, embodying strength, fidelity and, perhaps, an element of invincibility. The symbolism solidifies the viewer's belief in their protectors. Editor: And yet, seeing this made from ink and watercolor, mass-produced perhaps… it’s fascinating to remember how deeply such objects are rooted in physical processes of creation, consumption and purpose. I can feel the physical trace of hands shaping meaning. Curator: Exactly. By understanding his position, his symbology, we gain a small insight into the heart of a culture. Editor: Absolutely, this piece invites us to think about production, about intention, about a nation taking shape in real-time. It's quite evocative!