Gezicht op de Groote Koninklijke Bazar in Den Haag 1827 - 1873

Hendrik Wilhelmus Last created this lithograph of the Groote Koninklijke Bazar in The Hague, capturing a slice of 19th-century Dutch life. At first glance, we see a bustling marketplace. Yet, consider the recurring image of the guard on horseback. The equestrian figure is loaded with cultural memory. The motif can be traced back to antiquity, where it symbolized power, nobility, and control, exemplified by Roman emperors depicted astride their steeds. Here, the guard is not merely an individual but a stand-in for state authority, maintaining order amidst the commerce. This archetype echoes through time. The guard subtly reminds us of the psychological undercurrents of power and the societal structures at play. In the collective subconscious, the image evokes the idea of control. From ancient rulers to modern-day authority figures, the symbol persists, continually reshaped by the prevailing culture, yet forever tethered to its primal roots.