Ermolay Fyodorovich Kern, Russian General 

This is a portrait of Ermolay Fyodorovich Kern, a Russian General, painted by George Dawe using oil on canvas. What I find striking here is the way that Dawe has used the inherent qualities of oil paint to capture the essence of power and authority. The layering of the paint creates a sense of depth and texture, particularly in the general's uniform, and the painstaking detail gives the artwork a certain weight. Consider the bright epaulettes and the gleam of the medals, a testament to Kern's service and status, which are all rendered with careful precision. Dawe was one of many artists during this period who were essentially commissioned into service; churning out propaganda for the war machine. This painting is less about the sitter's inner character, than it is about the projection of state power, and the kind of skill and labour which was mobilized in its service. This portrait reminds us that even the most seemingly straightforward artworks are often deeply embedded in social and political contexts.