Schuttersbiljet van Thomas Waddington, 1698 1698

This is a schuttersbiljet, or civic guard certificate, made in 1698 by an anonymous artist. These certificates were essentially receipts issued to members of the civic guard in the Dutch Republic. The print reflects the complex intersection of civic duty, social identity, and artistic expression in the 17th century Dutch Republic. The civic guard was a voluntary militia, a cross-section of middle-class male citizens who were tasked with maintaining order and defending their city. Membership was a marker of social standing and civic engagement, as well as a potent symbol of local identity and patriotism during a period of intense political and economic change. Prints like these served as symbols of allegiance and belonging. In this print, the artist has attempted to mirror the emotional dimensions of civic life, representing an individual's commitment to the community, and visualizing abstract concepts such as freedom, and civic responsibility.