Poul Johan Schouw, guvernør i Ostindien 1799 - 1800

Jens Juel painted this portrait of Poul Johan Schouw, a governor in Ostindien, a person who was profiting from the Danish colony in India. This portrait is not just a depiction of an individual; it is also a testament to the complex web of global trade and colonial power that defined the 18th century. Schouw’s identity is deeply intertwined with Denmark’s colonial ambitions. As governor, he occupied a position of power, benefiting from the exploitation of resources and labor in the colonies. The portrait captures Schouw in his privileged role, but it also indirectly acknowledges the lives and labor of those who were subjected to colonial rule. Juel, as the artist, was part of a society that enabled and celebrated such colonial figures, despite the brutal realities of the colonial system. This painting invites us to reflect on how we represent historical figures implicated in systems of oppression, and the role of art in either perpetuating or challenging those power structures.