Portret van onbekende militair 1822 - 1874

This is a portrait of an unknown military man by Christian Heinrich Gottlieb Steuerwald. His uniform, with its high collar, and epaulettes, speaks of duty, of order, of a world structured by hierarchies and expectations. These symbols of military dress echo through history, from the Roman legions to Napoleon's Grande Armée, each uniform a visual shorthand for power, authority, and the willingness to serve a cause. Epaulettes, initially functional, evolved into ornate symbols of rank, announcing one's status and command. Yet, consider how the stiff posture and formal attire can also be seen as a mask, concealing the individual beneath. It invites us to think about the psychological weight of conformity and the suppression of individual expression in the name of collective identity. The figure resurfaces in cycles of conflict and peace, constantly reshaped by cultural and historical currents.