Uniform van de huzaren van Prins Rohan 1795 - 1796

S.G. Casten created this watercolor drawing of the "Uniform van de huzaren van Prins Rohan," or the uniform of the Hussars of Prince Rohan, but the date of its creation is not known. Hussars, as light cavalrymen, were a common sight in the armies of 18th-century Europe, and their elaborate and flamboyant uniforms spoke to the aristocratic status of many who filled their ranks. The Prince of Rohan referenced in the title was likely Charles Alain Gabriel de Rohan, a military commander during the French Revolution. What is fascinating about this drawing, however, is that it is found within a larger book of hand-painted images of military uniforms of the Dutch and other European armies, suggesting the institutional importance of military dress as a marker of national identity, social status, and political allegiance. To fully understand the cultural significance of such images, historians consult a range of resources, including military archives, fashion plates, and social histories, all of which reveal how clothing serves as a powerful emblem of social and institutional structures.