Schutterij te paard van 's-Gravenhage, 1830 1830 - 1831

Theodoor Soeterik made this print of the mounted civil guard of The Hague around 1830. In the wake of the Napoleonic wars, civil guard units like this one sprung up across Europe to maintain public order and defend against foreign invasion. Here, Soeterik depicts three guardsmen in full dress uniform, complete with top hats, swords, and decorated saddle cloths. The image creates meaning through its depiction of a well-ordered and disciplined fighting force. It's a clear demonstration of civic virtue that was particularly relevant in the Netherlands at this time. Just prior to the work being made, the country was experiencing a period of relative stability under King William I, but tensions were rising between the Dutch-speaking north and the French-speaking south, which would soon explode into the Belgian Revolution. The work reveals that the image of public order was carefully managed. To understand more, consult local archives to learn about the social composition of the civil guard in The Hague.