Portret van Abraham Duquesne 1835 - 1837

This is Victor Florence Pollet’s portrait of Abraham Duquesne, made as an engraving. Pollet was a 19th-century artist, but here he depicts Duquesne, a naval officer from the 1600s. In this print, Duquesne is presented as a figure of power and prestige, embodying the ideals of masculinity of his era through his confident stance and elaborate attire. The attire signifies wealth, status, and adherence to courtly norms. What's interesting to me, however, is how portraiture like this—and Pollet's work in particular—tends to flatten historical narratives. Here, Duquesne's identity as a naval officer overshadows the nuances of his actions and the historical context in which he lived. I find myself reflecting on how history remembers and celebrates certain figures while overlooking others.