Portret van generaal Dibbets 1867

This is a portrait of General Dibbets, made by Cornelis Sebille Roos. Dibbets was a military figure during a tumultuous time in European history, in which traditional monarchies were being challenged by revolutionary ideas of liberty, equality, and fraternity. As a general, Dibbets was a symbol of state power, a power that determined the fate of people from different classes and backgrounds. The image of the general, with his formal attire and stern expression, speaks to the weight of leadership and the performance of masculinity within the military. Consider how gender, class, and power intersect in this image. The medals, the uniform, the hat with its proud feather – all these elements tell a story of status and authority in a world where social mobility was far from guaranteed. But it also tells a story of a person, one who bore the responsibilities of command and whose decisions impacted the lives of many.