Portret van een onbekende man 1799

This portrait of an unknown man was made by Charles Howard Hodges, a British painter active in the Netherlands in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. It was made using the technique of mezzotint, a printmaking process that allows for rich tonal gradations. Looking at the attire, the figure is dressed in military uniform, with particular attention paid to the details of his sash. The man's gaze suggests a figure of authority. The inscription "Suwarow" below the image suggests that the sitter may be the Russian General Alexander Suvorov. Hodges was active during a period of political upheaval in Europe, including the Napoleonic Wars. Military figures were often valorized in portraiture to promote the idea of ​​national strength. The Rijksmuseum, where this portrait is housed, was established in the late 19th century to showcase Dutch art and history, so it is interesting that a British artist and possibly a Russian sitter are a part of the collection. Art historians can use sources like letters, newspapers, and institutional records to uncover the complex social forces that shaped this image.