Portret van een onbekend lid van het bestuur van de Koninklijke Militaire Academie in Breda before 1890

This photograph of an unknown member of the board of the Koninklijke Militaire Academie in Breda was made in 1890 by Franz Reissig. The photograph is part of the Cadetten-Almanak, which was in its thirteenth year of publication. The Almanak served as a yearbook that reflected the military culture of the time, particularly as it relates to the Koninklijke Militaire Academie. The stiff, formal pose and the subject's uniform signify the importance of discipline, order and hierarchy within the military. It’s important to recognize that these institutions played a key role in shaping national identity and power structures. In considering works like this, we might consult archival records of the Koninklijke Militaire Academie, genealogical databases, or military history resources to understand the broader context in which this image was produced and circulated. By viewing art as part of its broader social and institutional context, we gain insight into the cultural values and power dynamics that were at play in Dutch society at the time.