Erewacht ter zee te Amsterdam, 1811 1811

This print, made in Amsterdam in 1811, depicts members of the Guard of Honour. More specifically, the guards pictured are part of Amsterdam’s naval contingent. The print offers a glimpse into the social landscape of the Netherlands under French rule. Following the Napoleonic conquest, the Netherlands became part of the French Empire, and Amsterdam was its third most important city. The Guard of Honour, visible in the garb of French soldiery, represents the elite citizens enlisted to serve in the ceremonial guard of Emperor Napoleon. They are a potent symbol of collaboration and the assimilation of Dutch society into the Napoleonic Empire. Understanding the political context of this image requires a study of period documents and material culture. By researching this artwork, we start to understand the complex negotiations of power and identity that characterized this period of Dutch history. The Guard of Honour embodies the complicated relationship between local identity and imperial power.