Soldiers (3 prints of varying size pasted onto a green sheet) 1820 - 1866

Victor Adam created this series of three prints of soldiers on a single green sheet. The overlay of prints, each framed, is a visual statement about the formal arrangements of images. Consider the composition: each scene captures different aspects of military life. The top print features a soldier in repose; the middle one, a soldier escorting a lady; and the bottom print depicts a mounted soldier with an attendant. Adam employs stark lines and contrasting textures to define the characters and settings. This is further accentuated by the varying sizes of each print, which plays with our perception, subtly altering the narrative weight of each scene. The choice of monochrome further encourages a focus on form, line and tonal variation. Together, these elements reflect broader artistic and philosophical concerns of the time. These prints challenge fixed meanings by engaging with how military identity is represented and perceived.