Borgervæbning. Satirisk blad 1746 - 1828

This satirical drawing of the Copenhagen civil guard is by C.A. Lorentzen. The civil guard, composed of bourgeois citizens rather than professional soldiers, was a loaded symbol in late 18th-century Denmark. On one hand, it represented civic duty and local patriotism. But it was also a symbol of class tensions, as wealthy merchants and tradesmen shouldered arms alongside shopkeepers and artisans. Lorentzen amplifies the inherent comedy of the situation. His figures are awkward, almost cartoonish. They appear as ordinary men playing dress-up as soldiers, which could be interpreted as a commentary on the performative nature of civic identity, and perhaps even a critique of the bourgeois’s aspirations to military prowess. The drawing thus becomes a vehicle for social commentary, subtly poking fun at the aspirations and pretensions of the middle class in a society undergoing rapid change.