French(?) Troops Crossing the Inn River 1809

Editor: Here we have Albrecht Adam's "French(?) Troops Crossing the Inn River." It's a delicate pencil drawing, and I’m immediately struck by the almost casual way it depicts what must have been a rather chaotic military maneuver. What catches your eye? Curator: It’s true, there's a certain lightness of touch, isn't there? I’m drawn to the way Adam captures the ripple of the water, and how it reflects, or rather *doesn't* reflect, the turmoil of war. Do you notice how the linear perspective almost flattens the scene? It’s as if he’s trying to distance himself, and us, from the very event he's illustrating. Editor: That's a great point. The flatness almost makes it feel like a stage play. I hadn't considered that distance. Curator: Indeed. And perhaps that distance is where we find its power; a quiet observation amid conflict. Something to ponder, wouldn't you say?