Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn, Night Watch, Gunners of district II led by captain Frans Banninck Cocq, 1642, Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn, Night Watch, Gunners of district II led by captain Frans Banninck Cocq, 1642, Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

In the 17th century you could make a career if you were part of the local militia. The shooting club is the place to network. The main members had themselves portrayed as a group, not meant for private, but for the association building. Rembrandt painted a group portrait of gunners in an unprecedented way. The group is not depicted as usual, statically in a row like a football or soccer team. But as a theatrical group in action on stage. As if they step into our world, the world of the spectator.

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