Officier der Genie , 1801 1801

This watercolor was completed in 1801 by Jan Anthonie Langendijk Dzn and it depicts an officer with a lady. The officer’s proud stance and uniform are symbols of authority. This image is a variation on the miles gloriosus, the archetypal soldier figure which has roots going as far back as ancient Greek comedy. We can think of his plumed hat as a peacock’s display of virility, a visual language which has appeared across societies, from Renaissance portraiture to contemporary fashion. It is interesting to notice the contrast with the woman figure, who appears in much softer, lighter tones. Consider how these symbols, and archetypes, through shifting contexts, speak to our collective memory.