Belgische stadswacht, 1830 1830 - 1831

This is a lithograph from 1830, portraying a member of the Belgian civic guard and created by an anonymous artist. The print offers insight into the formation of national identity, social class, and civic duty. Belgium in 1830 was in revolt against Dutch rule, and the civic guard, largely middle-class citizens, were central to the push for independence. The guard was formed by, and for, the bourgeois, and excluded the working class. The uniform is meticulously detailed here; it symbolizes not just military readiness but also the social and political aspirations of its members. The choice to depict a civic guard reflects the values of a society in transition, negotiating its identity through revolution and the establishment of new social hierarchies. This image invites reflection on the dynamics of revolution, who gets included, who is excluded, and what symbols are used to define a nation's identity.