Vrijwillige Jager der Hooge school te Leyden 1835 - 1850

Albertus Verhoesen made this print, "Vrijwillige Jager der Hooge school te Leyden," in the nineteenth century. It offers a glimpse into the social and political landscape of the Netherlands during a time of significant transformation. The print portrays a volunteer soldier from the University of Leiden. Notice the details of the uniform, they signify the intersection of academic life and military service, reflecting a society where civic duty extended into the realm of intellectual institutions. Who were these volunteer soldiers, really? They were students, members of the bourgeoisie, university educated men, all standing in defense of a nation still reeling from Napoleonic occupation. The image evokes the pride and anxieties of a nation grappling with its identity in the wake of revolution and shifting power dynamics. It invites us to consider the relationship between education, citizenship, and the defense of national ideals in a rapidly changing world.