Trompetter der Rijdende Artillerie 1835 - 1850

Albertus Verhoesen created this small drawing entitled 'Trompetter der Rijdende Artillerie'. The vertical composition centers on a trumpeter whose figure is constructed with a network of fine lines. Notice how the artist uses line to define the contours of the figure as well as to suggest the folds and textures of the uniform. Verhoesen’s approach is deeply rooted in a semiotic tradition, where each color and form signifies specific social codes and hierarchies. Red, prominently displayed, symbolizes valor and authority. The gleam of gold on the trumpet and epaulettes represents status. Even the white plume atop the trumpeter's hat serves as a visual marker of his role. The figure stands on a small patch of land. This compositional choice grounds the figure, but it also elevates him, suggesting a stage. The artist underscores the theatricality of military display by rendering the figure as if on exhibit. In the context of its time, this work serves not merely as a portrait but as a study in the visual rhetoric of power and identity.