Portrait of Jean Chrétien Baud 1835

Raden Saleh painted this portrait of Jean Chrétien Baud, we think around the mid-19th century, using oil on canvas. Note the Cross of the Order of the Netherlands Lion, prominently displayed. This symbolizes Baud's service and allegiance to the Dutch crown. The cross, an emblem of honor and distinction, is a motif found across European portraiture, reminiscent of medieval heraldry, where symbols declared lineage and loyalty. Consider how this symbol, intended to project authority, echoes the iconography of knighthood, yet here it serves to legitimize colonial power. The weight of such symbols is never neutral. They carry a psychological charge, influencing how both the subject and the viewer perceive power. The evolution of such symbols reflects the cyclical nature of history, where old forms are repurposed to serve new ideologies, continually reshaping our understanding of authority and identity.