De schuttersmaaltijd in de Voetboogdoelen of St. Jorisdoelen te Amsterdam ter viering van het sluiten van de vrede van Munster, 18 juni 1648 1790 - 1796

Charles Emmanuel Patas created this print, "De schuttersmaaltijd in de Voetboogdoelen," to commemorate the Peace of Munster in 1648. The print depicts a celebratory gathering of civic guards, or “schutters,” a reflection of the social and political landscape of the Dutch Golden Age. These schutters, largely middle-class men, held significant social power as defenders and police of their cities. Patas made this print roughly a century later. We might consider how the print reflects a historical narrative, an almost nostalgic portrayal, of Dutch civic life and masculine camaraderie. Note the arrangement of figures and the detailed rendering of their attire. The image emphasizes the schutters' collective identity, an identity deeply tied to the defense and governance of their cities, while subtly reinforcing notions of social hierarchy and power structures. The print encapsulates a moment of unity and triumph and invites us to reflect on the complexities of identity, power, and representation in Dutch society.