Portret van kapitein Frans Banningh Cocq 1859

Henri J. Zimmerman made this print of "Portret van kapitein Frans Banningh Cocq" sometime in the 19th century. Zimmerman, working in the aftermath of Dutch colonialism, engages here with one of the most recognizable symbols of Dutch cultural identity: Rembrandt. This piece is not just a portrait but an engagement with history and memory. Zimmerman's choice to depict Cocq, a captain in the civic guard, places him within the narrative of Dutch power and civic duty. How does Zimmerman both honor and question the legacy of Dutch identity? The print invites us to reflect on the legacy of Dutch history and its complex relationship to power, representation, and cultural memory. What does it mean to revisit these figures and narratives in the context of the 19th century?