Man met een zwaard bij een gezelschap aan een tafel 1802 - 1809

Daniël Veelwaard created this print, "Man met een zwaard bij een gezelschap aan een tafel," using etching. Veelwaard, working in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, lived through a period of significant social upheaval, including the rise of revolutionary ideas and shifting class structures. The image depicts a man with a sword interrupting a gathering at a table. The inscription below the image reads: 'look, he is still sitting there, but Sacre Dieu! he will have to leave'. Consider the power dynamics at play in the scene. The armed man exudes a sense of authority and control, while those seated at the table appear to be a more privileged class of society. This is heightened by the use of "Sacre Dieu", a way to invoke the divine to impose his will. Veelwaard’s print offers a glimpse into the tensions and conflicts that were shaping society, capturing both the grand narratives of revolution and the intimate experiences of individuals navigating a world in flux.