Salueerend jongetje 1848 - 1927

August Allebé made this pencil drawing called "Salueerend jongetje" - or "Saluting Boy" - sometime in the late 19th century. Allebé was deeply engaged in the social and cultural life of Amsterdam. He co-founded the artists' society known as "St. Lucas," which aimed to uplift the status of artists in society. This image of a saluting boy captures a moment of transition. The boy is dressed in a suit, yet his pose has a charming sense of informality. The gesture of the salute is both formal and endearing, and speaks of the growing importance of social mobility at the time. The artwork is a window into a society grappling with questions of class, identity, and the rapidly shifting social landscape of the late 19th century. Allebé’s sensitive drawing reflects a moment in which the boundaries between childhood innocence and the expectations of adult society are blurred.