Horse Guards in St James's Park te Londen 1858

Gerrit Postma made this pencil drawing of the Horse Guards in St James's Park in London. The work encapsulates British social and political history. The Horse Guards, the building in the background of the drawing, served as the headquarters of the British Army. It represents the power and authority of the British state. The park, a royal park, symbolizes the monarchy and its connection to the land and the people. Postma, being Dutch, shows us an outsider’s view of British society. His choice of subject reflects the interest of the Dutch in the social and political structures of other nations, especially those with colonial power. To fully understand this drawing, we need to know more about the relationship between the Netherlands and Britain at the time. We might also consider the role of the artist as a social observer. These contextual factors greatly influence our understanding of its meaning and significance.