Soldaat met een lans naast zijn paard 1810 - 1884

Johannes Mock made this print, "Soldier with a Lance Next to His Horse," sometime in the 19th century using etching. This piece offers a glimpse into the military culture of the Netherlands during a period marked by significant social and political change. The soldier, standing proudly with his lance and horse, embodies a sense of duty and national pride. Yet, consider the subtle details: his ornate uniform and the composed stance of the horse suggest more than just military readiness. They speak to a performance of power, carefully constructed and presented. What does it mean to represent a soldier in this way? Is it an idealized image meant to inspire patriotism, or does it reveal the complex relationship between the individual, the state, and the theater of war? Perhaps it is both, capturing the pride and the performance inherent in military identity.