Portret van schout bij nacht J.E. de Man 1850 - 1875

This is an undated portrait of J.E. de Man by an anonymous artist. De Man, adorned with medals and epaulettes, embodies the image of the Dutch naval officer. Consider the historical and social context of naval power, entangled as it was with colonialism and the projection of power across the seas. This portrait then, is not simply the depiction of an individual, but also a representation of Dutch imperial ambitions and its complex relationship with global trade and control. What does it mean to memorialize a figure so closely tied to the history of colonialism? How do we reconcile the personal achievements and identity of the individual with the larger, often oppressive, systems in which they operated? The stark formality of the portrait invites us to consider the weight of history, and the stories that remain untold.