Portret van Cornelis Evertsen in wapenrusting, in ovaal, naar rechts 1720 - 1792

Aert Schouman created this portrait of Cornelis Evertsen in armour using pen in brown and gray, brush in gray, over black chalk around the 18th century. Schouman, active during the Dutch Golden Age, navigated a society deeply invested in maritime power and commerce, which shaped artistic patronage and subject matter. This portrait, in its conventional depiction of male authority, invites an intersectional reading of gender, power, and class. Cornelis Evertsen, framed in armour, is a symbol of military prowess, reflecting the patriarchal structures of Dutch society where power was often inherited and displayed through symbols of strength and status. However, there is some ambiguity. The softness of the lines and the almost gentle expression complicate our reading of Evertsen as purely a figure of patriarchal power. Schouman neither maintains traditional representations nor develops alternative narratives, but rather opens up a space to explore the tensions between duty, identity, and representation.