Portret van kolonel Dentsch c. 1848 - 1854

Christian Heinrich Gottlieb Steuerwald created this portrait of Colonel Dentsch with graphite. It is likely that Steuerwald created this portrait in the Netherlands in the mid-19th century, a period marked by the consolidation of Dutch colonial power and military presence in the East Indies. The portrait itself, with its careful attention to detail and respectable depiction of the Colonel, speaks to the values of the Dutch middle class at the time. It reflects the importance of military service and the social standing associated with it. It's interesting to consider whether the choice of medium, graphite, reflects anything about Steuerwald's own social position. Was he unable to afford the materials needed for painting? Or was it a conscious aesthetic choice? As historians, we can use sources such as military records, genealogical databases, and studies of colonial history to enrich our understanding of this portrait and its broader context.