Bericht van intekening op een grote plaat van de Oefening van het Amsterdamse exercitiegenootschap Tot Nut der Schuttery, 1786 1786

This broadside, created in 1786 by J. Sluytman van der Meer, announces subscriptions for a large plate depicting the Amsterdamse Exercitiegenootschap Tot Nut der Schuttery, a voluntary militia. The announcement highlights the militia's significance, claiming it deserves to be memorialized artistically for the entire nation. This wasn’t just about military exercises; it was a performance of civic duty, a visual spectacle intended to inspire patriotism. It offered a space for citizens to enact and embody their allegiance to the nation, to give visual form to the abstract concept of Dutch unity. The announcement also points out that the print will depict not just the maneuvers, but also the "Honorable Members, Gentlemen and Ladies, Colors, etc." This inclusive language speaks to the complex social dynamics of the time, where military service and civic participation intersected with gender and class. The broadside emphasizes that this scene is like no other for its artistic possibilities in both drawing and engraving. Ultimately, this broadside reminds us that art is not simply a reflection of society, but an active participant in shaping cultural values and national identity.