Man met onderscheiding groet soldaat c. 1837 - 1849

Jean-Julien Jacott made this print, Man meets soldier with distinction, in the 19th century using lithography. It invites us to consider the relationships between class, gender, and power during a period of significant social change in Europe. The image features a well-dressed man greeting a soldier. The setting includes a guardhouse and onlookers, suggesting a public space where social interactions are on display. The man's gesture implies respect or acknowledgement of the soldier’s position, hinting at the dynamics between civilian and military life. The woman in the image, adorned in elaborate attire, perhaps symbolizes the domestic sphere that is both supported and confined by these social structures. The work can be read as a reflection on emerging national identities and the roles individuals play within them. It encourages us to think about how traditional hierarchies were both maintained and challenged. It also raises questions about whose stories are told and whose perspectives are valued in the construction of historical narratives.