Portret van een onbekende militair 1816 - 1839

This is a drawing of an unknown military man made by M. Landolt. Consider how the image creates meaning through visual codes and cultural references. Here, we see a portrait of a military officer, presumably Dutch, judging by the location of this piece, but its exact date is unknown. The uniform connotes power, allegiance, and social order. Military portraits were often commissioned or produced in the Netherlands to project an image of strength and stability, particularly during times of political change. This image offers a window into the social structures of its time, emphasizing the role of the military in upholding social norms. To fully understand this work, one would need to do a deep dive into the archives of military and portraiture history. The meaning of art is always contingent on its social and institutional context.