Reproductie van Les zouaves a la tranchée door Isidore Pils before 1877

Charles Michelez created this reproduction of Isidore Pils' "Les Zouaves a la Tranchée" using an etching technique. At first glance, the monochromatic palette and blurred details create a scene of chaotic movement. The composition is dominated by a horizontal band of figures, their forms dissolving into the landscape, challenging clear distinctions between the soldiers and their environment. The figures emerge from and recede back into the landscape. Michelez destabilizes traditional representations of heroism and military precision. The loose brushstrokes and muted tones undermine any sense of glory, instead conveying the disorienting and dehumanizing conditions of trench warfare. The image invites ongoing interrogation into the nature of conflict and its representation. The very act of reproduction further complicates our understanding of originality and authenticity, prompting us to question what is lost and gained in the process of translation.