Portret van Johan van Galen 1840 - 1884

Jan Frederik Christiaan Reckleben created this portrait of Johan van Galen using printmaking techniques. Reckleben's work provides a glimpse into the valorization of Dutch naval heroes during the 19th century. Van Galen, who lived in the 17th century, rose to prominence during a period of intense maritime conflict and naval expansion. What does it mean to look back from the 19th century, with its own colonial endeavors, and represent Van Galen? We might consider the politics of historical memory and nation-building, and the complex ways in which heroism is constructed and commemorated. Consider how the visual language of portraiture, with its conventions of pose, dress, and setting, contributes to the construction of Van Galen's identity. The armor, for example, speaks to a very particular kind of masculinity: one forged in battle. What does it mean to remember and represent Van Galen in this way?