Schutters op schietbaan het Vosje te Amsterdam 1896

This graphite drawing shows a group portrait of ‘Schutters,’ or civic guardsmen, at the shooting range 'het Vosje' in Amsterdam. These guards, armed with rifles, represent order, authority, and the defense of civic ideals. The image of armed defenders can be traced back through centuries. Recall the Roman legions, always ready for war. The ‘Schutters’ emerge in the late Middle Ages, mirroring the rise of urban autonomy, when these voluntary militias became crucial for protecting cities. Even today, we see their descendants in modern military uniforms, bearing the symbolic weight of past guardians. Van Papendrecht's sketch captures a moment of their training, a recurring ritual of preparedness. What is less apparent, however, is the underlying emotional assurance these symbols of order provide. The presence of armed men has an unsettling, but also reassuring, effect on our collective psyche. Thus, the image reminds us that motifs and symbols, like guardians of culture, reappear, evolve, and take on new meanings, yet their psychological impact endures across time.