Vrijwillige Jager van van Dam 1835 - 1850

Albertus Verhoesen created this print, titled 'Vrijwillige Jager van van Dam,' using etching techniques. While undated, its visual cues offer insights into its historical context. The print depicts a voluntary Jager, or light infantryman, likely during the period of heightened national consciousness and military reform in the Netherlands. The Jager's uniform, posture, and weaponry reflect the evolving identities of citizen soldiers in the early 19th century. We see the emergence of a middle class, the group most likely to volunteer for military service. The etching may seem like a straightforward military portrait, but it subtly engages with themes of class, civic duty, and national identity. It invites us to consider how military service was not only a matter of state, but also a personal expression of commitment to a changing nation.