Dimensions: height 197 mm, width 310 mm
Copyright: Rijks Museum: Open Domain
This is an illustration by S.G. Casten, depicting the uniforms of Imperial Constables. The eye is immediately drawn to the right page where Casten groups the figures tightly around the cannon. The soldiers, depicted in shades of grey, create a sense of uniformity and order. The cannon itself is rendered with careful attention to its cylindrical form and the radial symmetry of its wheels, becoming a focal point in the composition. Casten uses linear perspective sparingly, yet effectively. The barrel and the arrangement of the soldiers suggest depth, creating a sense of space within the confines of the page. This relates to the broader historical context where precision in representation reflected a growing emphasis on empirical observation. The visual language of this artwork, with its attention to detail and formal arrangement, does not merely represent military figures. It speaks to a larger discourse about structure, power and order in the representation of military and political entities.
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