Portrait Of The Wounded KNIL soldier Kees Pop 1882

"Portrait of the Wounded KNIL soldier Kees Pop" is a somber oil-on-canvas painting created in 1882 by Isaac Israels. The painting, housed in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, depicts a Dutch soldier of the Royal Dutch East Indies Army (KNIL) in a somber, realistic manner. The soldier is clearly wounded, with a white bandage covering his left arm and a red cloth tied around his head. The dark background and the soldier’s melancholic expression create a poignant image of the physical and emotional toll of war. The painting exemplifies Israels' focus on portraying the realities of everyday life, especially for those struggling with poverty and hardship. This artwork is a powerful testament to the impact of colonialism and the human cost of military conflict.