Portret van een onbekende man c. 1830

Jean-Baptiste Madou created this portrait of an unknown man with graphite and brush on paper. The military uniform is the central motif here; a symbol of duty, honor, and authority deeply embedded in the collective consciousness of European societies. This iconography of the military figure extends back through centuries—from the bronze statues of Roman emperors to the medieval knights depicted in tapestries, each iteration carrying the weight of its era’s ideals and anxieties. Consider how, even in antiquity, the image of the soldier was carefully constructed to project power and legitimacy. The buttons down the jacket and the epaulettes share the same purpose. These motifs reappear in different forms across time and space, from the Renaissance court portraits to modern-day political rallies. These symbols are not merely aesthetic choices, but rather potent triggers that tap into deep-seated emotions and memories. They represent the cyclical nature of power, constantly resurfacing and adapting to new contexts.