Staande schutter 1782 - 1837

Artist: The way this fella fades into the paper... he's almost a ghost. The lines are so delicate, like he might vanish if you breathe on him. Art Historian: You’re looking at “Standing Shooter” by Pieter Bartholomeusz. Barbiers. It's currently held in the Rijksmuseum. This work from between 1782 and 1837 offers insight into Dutch civic militia traditions and their representation through art. It is done with a pencil on paper, which is a technique Barbiers was know for, but this specific piece seems more like a sketch. Artist: Standing Shooter? Right, he's got that air of stern duty about him, even with those faint, soft lines. The way his clothes are suggested rather than defined, makes him very charming and very dutch in my opinion. He stands for something very old in a very new world Art Historian: Yes! These militias played a key social and political role. Civic guards were prominent, and images like this reinforced their importance. Barbiers probably created it for some local elite, possibly within the shooter society or something related. The militias themselves, while not constantly battling, represented civic pride, order, and participation in local governance. The artist shows respect through this detailed image and all the rich little notes! Artist: It has the stillness of thought and an interesting melancholy feel about him. A man both ready for action but also frozen, trapped between tradition and modernity! It feels almost more about longing than power to me... maybe I am just projecting though. Art Historian: Or maybe that speaks to the genius of Barbier's ability to capture conflicting feelings and the tension that really defined those transitional periods and which is being preserved in The Rijksmuseum. Even in a society based on ideals like strength and power, artists can subtly show a feeling of disquiet. This shooter doesn't exist in the eternal sunshine of Dutch propaganda; he feels somewhat more like he exists within actual time! Artist: Precisely! Thanks, now I will not look at him the same. A shoot of history for sure. Art Historian: The fun of understanding, isn’t it?