Uniformjas behorend bij het uniform van F.W.R. baron Bentinck tot Schoonheten c. 1840 - 1879

This uniform jacket once belonged to F.W.R. Baron Bentinck tot Schoonheten and was crafted by A. Bieshaar. Predominantly black, the jacket's somber tone is punctuated by bands of horizontal embellishments across the chest, with subtle embroidery at the cuffs, and metallic details at the collar. The uniform’s design, though functional, hints at a deeper encoding of social status and identity. Consider the structure of the jacket: the rigid collar, the symmetrical arrangement of buttons and decorative frogging. These elements serve to emphasize the wearer's upright posture. The jacket becomes not just an item of clothing but a symbol of power, control, and adherence to social norms. Semiotically, the uniform functions as a sign, communicating messages about rank and belonging. Note how the tailoring creates a visual impression of a body shaped by discipline and duty. This is not merely a garment, but a construction of identity through fabric, form and symbol, reflecting the values of the time. These are values that are always subject to questioning and re-evaluation.