Sappeur van het Genootschap tot Nut der Schutterij te Amsterdam, 1787 1787

This watercolor, made in 1787 by an anonymous artist, depicts a sapper of the Amsterdam Civic Guard. The figure carries an axe, not just as a tool, but as a potent symbol of his role. Axes, since antiquity, have been emblems of power and authority. Consider the double-headed axe, or labrys, of Minoan Crete, a sacred symbol of female power, later adopted by patriarchal societies as a symbol of state authority. Here, the axe signifies the sapper’s duty to clear the way, to break down barriers for the Civic Guard. The image is striking, and the axe is more than just a tool; it’s a marker of his identity and purpose. Think about the ways in which these symbols resonate across time, echoing through different eras and cultures. Each reappearance is a palimpsest, layering new meanings onto old forms, revealing the complex interplay between past and present.