Hoornblazer der Infanterie 1835 - 1850

Albertus Verhoesen rendered this portrait of a Dutch infantry hornblower with pen and watercolor. The horn, prominently displayed, is far more than a mere musical instrument; it’s a symbol of communication, and, by extension, of power and authority. The act of sounding a horn echoes through history, from the shofar calls in ancient Jewish ceremonies to the horns of medieval huntsmen. It’s a primal sound, capable of stirring deep emotions and rousing men to action. Consider the Roman tuba, used to signal troops in battle, or the trumpets of Jericho, which, according to legend, brought down city walls. Here, the hornblower stands as a vital link in the chain of command. In a pre-radio era, the horn was essential for relaying orders across the battlefield. Thus, the horn becomes a symbol of collective will, uniting individual soldiers under a single purpose. It is a call to arms, engaging viewers with a visceral intensity that taps into our collective memory. The image speaks of duty, courage, and the complex relationship between sound and action.