Grenadier van de garde van zijn Exellentie der Raadpensionaris 1806

Jan Anthonie Langendijk Dzn made this watercolor of a Grenadier of the Guard of the Grand Pensionary in 1806. It’s a depiction of power, of course, but also of the labor involved in projecting that power. Consider the details: the tailoring of the uniform, the stitching of the banner, the crafting of the musket. Even the tent in the background is a material statement, carefully assembled from lengths of canvas. Langendijk shows us not just the soldier’s bearing, but all the work that goes into his presentation. The watercolor medium itself contributes to this effect. Unlike oil paint, which can be layered and blended to create an illusion of seamlessness, watercolor retains a sense of immediacy. The artist's hand remains visible, mirroring the many hands that produced the soldier's accoutrements. So while this image clearly celebrates military might, it also quietly acknowledges the vast network of artisanal labor upon which that might depends.