Portret van George Monk 1842 - 1897

This is a portrait of George Monk, Duke of Albemarle, created by Christiaan Lodewijk van Kesteren. Monk lived in a time of political upheaval in England, navigating the complexities of the English Civil War and the Restoration. As a key military and political figure, his identity was deeply intertwined with the shifting power dynamics of the era. He had a hand in restoring the monarchy, and his portrayal here reflects the visual language of power and authority. Van Kesteren, though working later, engages with Monk's legacy through the lens of Dutch printmaking. Note how the artist utilizes the medium to both commemorate and perhaps re-evaluate Monk's role in history. How do you think van Kesteren's position as a 19th-century Dutch artist might influence his representation of a 17th-century English figure? The portrait serves as a reminder of how historical figures are continuously re-imagined and re-interpreted through art, reflecting the values and perspectives of different times.