Staande lansknecht in Bourgondisch kostuum, van voren 1833 - 1910

This watercolor was made by Jan Gerard Smits in the 19th century. It shows a foot soldier dressed in a Burgundian costume. Notice the soldier's dagger, prominently displayed. Throughout history, the dagger has been more than a mere weapon. In ancient Rome, it was a symbol of betrayal, as immortalized in the assassination of Julius Caesar. The dagger then reappears in Renaissance art as an emblem of hidden danger, a silent threat lurking beneath opulent surfaces. Here, it evokes a psychological tension—a blend of aggression and readiness that captures the anxieties of the time. It is a symbol that speaks of how deeply ingrained violence is in our collective memory. This piece shows the resurfacing of primal instincts, a recurring theme in our cultural narrative.