Montering van de Utrechtse scherpschutters, ca. 1787 1787 - 1790

Curator: Look at this image: "Montering van de Utrechtse scherpschutters," or, roughly, "Dress of the Utrecht Sharpshooters," a watercolor drawing from around 1787, artist unknown, here in the Rijksmuseum collection. Editor: It strikes me as a remarkably stiff and precise portrayal. The figure, sharply delineated, appears almost cartoonish. A bit awkward, really. Curator: It's difficult to see this as a simple portrait, though. The excessive details of his attire, particularly the rather outlandish hat and large epaulettes, lean towards caricature. It hints at underlying commentary, perhaps gently mocking the gentleman’s attire or even the militaristic fashion of the time. The artist is cleverly using fashion as a visual language. Editor: Yes, the artist truly emphasizes the clothing as material culture, pinpointing its social importance. The green uniform coat and gleaming buttons weren’t mere adornments but representations of status and societal position within the Utrecht sharpshooters. What material realities and production went into creating that status? Curator: Absolutely. And think of the colors used— the vivid green and the stark white—and what they symbolized then. Green often represented civic virtue, which certainly the sharp shooters corps wished to embody, with its white and gold to project luxury. Editor: Let's not forget the drawing medium itself, a combination of watercolor for subtle blending and meticulous line work. Someone labored intensely to create this representation, which speaks to both its intended audience and the value placed on such visual documentation. And how it gets distributed to become an enduring signifier. Curator: Consider also the Neoclassical leanings in this image, with its emphasis on clean lines and balanced composition— though skewed slightly for the purpose of… irony, perhaps? We see order but with an almost rebellious wink. The drawing is almost too proper to be taken completely seriously. Editor: Ultimately, this piece, from its material creation to its subject matter, seems designed to showcase societal concerns through very specific objects and their crafted presentation. And who consumed it in its own day. Curator: An engaging image, revealing how symbols embedded in something as seemingly simple as military attire can reflect the values and anxieties of an era. Editor: Indeed. Materiality meeting symbolic messaging head on, making us consider the construction of identity and social commentary through very physical means.