Parade van de vrijwillige burger Cavalerie, 1787 1787

François Joseph Pfeiffer created this print titled *Parade van de vrijwillige burger Cavalerie* in 1787. It depicts a parade of the voluntary civic cavalry on Koningsplein in Amsterdam. This print offers a glimpse into the social fabric of the late 18th century. Notice the clear distinction between those participating in the parade and those observing. The civic cavalry was typically composed of middle-class men, a group that was increasingly seeking to assert their influence in a society still dominated by the aristocracy. The image reflects the growing sense of civic identity and the desire for self-governance among this class. What might the act of parading, of being seen and recognized, mean for these men and for the image they wish to project? How does this event speak to the period’s evolving notions of citizenship, belonging, and power? The print becomes a space where these questions of identity and social standing are visualized and negotiated.