Vaandrig 1587 - 1596

This anonymous print, “Vaandrig”, was made at an unknown date using an engraving technique. The image depicts a standard-bearer; the person responsible for carrying a flag or standard during battle. In seventeenth-century Netherlands, the role of the standard-bearer was more than just a military function, it was a symbol of honor, loyalty, and pride. Looking closely, you can see the image is divided into three distinct registers, each telling a part of the story. The standard-bearer seems to be stepping forward, ready for battle, but below we also see him dead. The print embodies the complex politics of imagery at the time. Was it meant to inspire patriotism? Was it simply a depiction of a common military figure? Or was it an anti-war statement? To understand this better, one could delve into Dutch military history, analyze the use of symbolism in Dutch art, and study the role of the military within the political structure of the time.