Schuttersbriefje van februari 1788 1788 - 1789

This "Schuttersbriefje," or shooting certificate, was created in February 1788 by Theodoor Koning. Here, the allegorical figure of a woman, likely representing civic virtue, stands beside a panoply of martial symbols: cannons, drums, and flags surround the crest, evoking the call to arms. Note how the tambourine she holds aloft features a cross shape; such a seemingly simple emblem, seen also on flags and shields, speaks to deep-seated cultural memories. Consider the image of the cross as it was transformed across time, from ancient solar symbols, and later adopted into a Christian icon. The cross resonates beyond its immediate religious significance; it's a potent intersection, a meeting point, laden with the weight of history and collective experience. This convergence has been revived, shifted and re-contextualized, to become a symbol of both conflict and spiritual belief. The subconscious symbolism triggers a primal response, influencing our interpretation of the piece and connecting us to layers of ancestral emotion.