Wijkbriefje van de Amsterdamse schutterij, 1795 1795

This print by Theodoor Koning made in 1795 pictures the Amsterdam Civic Guard or "schutterij" as it was known in Dutch. The image is allegorical, expressing abstract ideas about the role of the schutterij in Amsterdam society. In the Dutch Republic, civic guards were volunteer militias charged with keeping order, but they were also closely associated with specific political factions. The image contains classical figures of Peace and Justice. The shield behind Peace says ‘Rights of Men’. In the center is an image of uniformed schutterij. The schutterij evolved over time. Originally they were defenders of the city. By the 18th century they had become more of a social club for wealthy citizens. However, in the 1780s, they became politicized as the Patriots used them to challenge the power of the Stadtholder. By the 1790s, as this print was made, the schutterij became aligned with revolutionary politics. To understand the image better, we can examine archives, pamphlets, and other printed matter from the period. This will tell us what the image meant to people at the time. Art like this does not exist in a vacuum but comes from particular social and institutional contexts.