Staande figuur met hand op degen 1732 - 1740

Jacques Philippe Le Bas created this print, titled 'Staaande figuur met hand op degen', the Dutch translation for Standing figure with hand on sword, sometime between 1707 and 1783. The artwork is currently held in the Rijksmuseum. This image offers a glimpse into the visual culture and social stratification of 18th-century Europe. The figure, draped in what appears to be luxurious fabrics and furs, seems to play with the idea of nobility. Consider the power dynamics at play, especially in the context of colonialism and burgeoning global trade during this era. How might the figure's attire reflect the exploitation of resources and labor from distant lands? What does it mean to be an elite in that moment of history? The print invites us to consider how identities are constructed and performed through visual markers like clothing and posture, and how these performances are deeply enmeshed with historical and cultural narratives of power and privilege.