Noord Hollandsche Jagers 1835 - 1850

Albertus Verhoesen painted this portrait of a Noord Hollandsche Jager, or North Holland Hunter, with watercolor and gouache. Note the hat, adorned with a distinctive emblem. The hunting horn, derived from ancient signaling instruments, has long symbolized the call to action and the spirit of the hunt. This emblem, resonant with echoes of the past, reminds me of the Roman cornu, a similar horn used to rally troops. The horn is a very ancient instrument. Across various cultures, the horn's symbolism shifts: sometimes it represents power, other times community, yet it almost always invokes the primeval human connection to nature and the hunt. This image invokes a potent, almost visceral response. The Jager’s assured stance, combined with the hunting horn symbol, speaks to a collective memory of leadership, struggle, and perhaps, a longing for a simpler, more connected existence. The motif reflects a continuous dialogue between past and present.