Eerste luitenant van het Koninklijk Nederlandsch-Indisch Leger 1814 - 1850

This is an undated drawing of a First Lieutenant of the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army, made by an anonymous artist. It offers a glimpse into the visual representation of colonial power. The subject is depicted in full military regalia, standing against a backdrop that suggests the East Indies, but also a certain artifice. The landscape is picturesque, yet generic, almost as if to emphasize the exotic lands under Dutch control. This rendering served to reinforce an image of Dutch authority and ‘civilization’ in the colonies, and the construction of a particular identity for the colonizers. What does it mean to see this figure, frozen in a moment of assumed authority? How does the image play into the complex narratives of colonialism, identity, and representation? The drawing reflects the societal structures of the time, maintaining a traditional, hierarchical vision. It invites us to reflect on the human stories interwoven with the broader narratives of empire and the echoes of the past that reverberate into the present.