Karl Osipovich Lambert (de Lambert), Russian General 

George Dawe painted this portrait of Karl Osipovich Lambert, a Russian General, sometime in the early 19th century. As a portrait, this work presents Lambert as a figure of power and authority. The uniform, the medals, and the confident gaze all contribute to this image of a military leader. But this image also serves the purpose of legitimizing the existing social order. In societies ruled by monarchs or emperors, visual representations of power were necessary to consolidate their control. Portraits of the military elite were particularly important in countries like Russia, which relied on its army to expand its territory. Paintings like this one remind us that art is never neutral. It is always shaped by the social, cultural, and political forces of its time. By studying these forces, we can gain a deeper understanding of the art itself. And we can also gain a deeper understanding of the societies that produced it.