Portret van Laurens Real, gouverneur-generaal van Nederlands-Indië 1709 - 1726

Dirk Jongman made this print of Laurens Real, governor-general of the Dutch East Indies. This portrait demonstrates the power and ambition of the Dutch in the 17th century, built on transcontinental trade and colonial exploitation. Real's attire signals his status: the wide-brimmed hat, the elaborate ruff, and the heavy gold chains are all visual signs of wealth and authority. Through the window, we see a landscape that alludes to the Indies, the source of that wealth. The composition is formal and hierarchical; the sitter is elevated above the viewer. The artist's strategic use of line and form creates a sense of monumentality, fitting for a man who represented Dutch power in Asia. To understand this image, we must look at the historical context of Dutch colonialism, the Dutch East India Company, and the institution of the governor-generalship. This portrait embodies the social structures of its time, reflecting the confidence and might of the Dutch Republic on the world stage.