Dragonder, te paard 1826

This print of a dragoon on horseback was made by Joannes Bemme. The image encapsulates both the tradition of military portraiture and the changing social landscape in the Netherlands. Bemme’s dragoon represents a military figure at a time of political and social upheaval in Europe. Dragoons, as mounted infantrymen, were a symbol of military power, but also of the changing nature of warfare and society. In a time of revolution and shifting national identities, the image of a soldier would have carried a heavy weight. It speaks to the complex relationship between military power, national identity, and social change. Historical records, military archives, and art historical scholarship will further contextualize this print. Analyzing such sources alongside the image will help us understand the role of military imagery in shaping national identity and social values during this turbulent time.