Portret van George White before 1900

This portrait of George White was produced by Langfier. Look closely, and you'll see it’s more than a simple depiction; it’s an assertion of power and identity deeply intertwined with the British colonial project. Framed by a waving Union Jack, White, a General in the British Army, gazes out with a stern expression. The visual language is clear: duty, honor, and the might of the Empire. The text below the image reads 'Thank God we have kept the flag flying', suggesting a moment of triumph or perhaps relief during a colonial conflict. But consider this image from another angle. What does it mean to "keep the flag flying" when that flag represents the subjugation of other peoples? How does White’s portrait function as a tool for perpetuating a specific narrative of British exceptionalism, even as it obscures the human cost of imperialism? This image invites us to reflect on the legacies of colonialism and the ways in which portraiture can both reflect and reinforce power structures.