Crematie van gedode krijgers before 1864

Charles Rochussen created this print, Crematie van gedode krijgers, using etching and drypoint techniques. Rochussen, born in 1814, lived through a time of significant social and political change in the Netherlands, including growing national identity. The print depicts a scene of solemnity and ritual, the cremation of fallen warriors. But look closer: who mourns, who watches, and who is being memorialized? The artist invites us to consider the human cost of conflict and reflect on the cultural practices surrounding death and remembrance. This image raises questions about how societies honor their heroes. The artist asks us to remember that beneath grand narratives of heroism and sacrifice lie individual stories of loss and mourning.