V.I. Kablukov 1825

This is a portrait of V.I. Kablukov, painted by George Dawe sometime before 1829, using oil on canvas. Dawe's technical skill is evident in the detailed rendering of Kablukov's uniform, complete with intricate braiding, metallic embellishments, and multiple medals. The fur trim is also carefully observed. But the real story here is the intense labor involved in the clothing itself. From the woollen cloth of the jacket, probably woven by hand, to the tailoring needed to produce such a garment, it speaks to the organization of labor and consumption in the early 19th century. Dawe was clearly at pains to represent Kablukov as a figure of power. Yet, it is important to recognize that his status was only made possible by networks of production that stretched far beyond the frame of the painting. Paying close attention to the material culture represented in artworks like this opens a window into the complex social relationships of the past.