Uniform van Engelse cavalerist 1795 - 1796

S.G. Casten created this watercolor drawing of an English cavalry uniform in an unknown year. The detailed rendering of the uniform, with its bright red coat, white trim, and elaborate headwear, speaks to the visual codes of power and national identity. Consider the role of such uniforms in shaping perceptions of authority and belonging. Military attire was, and is, carefully designed to project strength, discipline, and allegiance, reinforcing social hierarchies and national pride. The image develops a narrative around nationhood and the military. It also touches on the emotional dimensions of identity, inviting reflection on how uniforms influence both the wearer’s and the viewer’s sense of self and community. It encourages us to think about the ways society is structured and the ways we perform our identities within it.