Algemene Wapening, decoratie op het Kadijksplein, 1795 1795 - 1796

This is Johan Christoffel Schultsz’s, ‘Algemene Wapening, decoratie op het Kadijksplein, 1795’, a detailed drawing made on paper. The drawing presents a fortress-like structure, meticulously rendered with a strong emphasis on symmetry and architectural detail. This is a formalist construction of political propaganda. Notice how the stark lines and defined shapes create a rigid, almost imposing structure, which is softened slightly by the surrounding skyscape. The fortress is adorned with flags and emblems, symbols that create an iconographic presentation of power. The drawing's composition, with its central archway and flanking towers, directs the viewer's eye, controlling our gaze and reinforcing the stability of the depicted scene. But consider how these formal qualities also suggest a world in flux; the symbols of power are also theatrical props in a changing political climate. The artwork presents a tableau of authority, while also implying its fragility.