Ligte Dragonder 1835 - 1850

Albertus Verhoesen made this watercolor called ‘Light Dragoon’ on paper in the early 19th Century. It depicts a mounted soldier, likely intended to celebrate the Dutch cavalry. From a social and institutional perspective, this image embodies a militaristic and nationalistic pride that was common in Europe at the time. Consider that the Netherlands had only recently regained independence from Napoleonic France, so art like this played a key role in forging a sense of national identity. The specific details of the uniform and horse tack are also significant, as they reflect the importance of military symbolism in Dutch society. This art was made for a market that wished to see its values reflected in painting. We might look at newspapers and other images from this period to understand the artistic conventions.