Huibert Gerard Baron Nahuys van Burgst (1782-1858). Lid van de Raad van Nederlands Oost Indië, in het uniform van generaal-majoor titulair 1852

Bastiaan de Poorter painted this portrait of Huibert Gerard Baron Nahuys van Burgst using oil on panel. Dominated by a sombre palette, the painting conveys a sense of formality and authority. The baron’s stern gaze and erect posture command attention, offset by the ornate details of his military attire. The formal structure of this painting embodies a visual encoding of power relations. De Poorter’s meticulous brushstrokes highlight the texture of the general’s uniform, each button and medal carefully rendered to signify status. The composition is structured to present the Baron as a figure of significance within the Dutch colonial administration; a system of signs which reflect the prevailing social order. The painting's visual language—its calculated composition and attention to detail—speaks to the complex interplay between representation and power, inviting us to consider how artistic forms reflect broader cultural and historical contexts.