Head of a Grenadier in Profile 

Jean-Baptiste Édouard Detaille sketched “Head of a Grenadier in Profile” using what appears to be black ink on paper. Detaille was celebrated for his precise and evocative military paintings, offering a glimpse into France's army during a period marked by significant political and social change. This sketch shows us a grenadier, his profile marked by a stern gaze and elaborate uniform. The grenadier's identity is closely tied to the military and the state. His awards and uniform act almost like a mask, obscuring individuality for the sake of national identity. Detaille served in the military himself, so he knew first-hand the experience of French soldiers. Consider the weight of duty, honor, and expectation that soldiers like this grenadier carried. How does Detaille balance glorifying the military with the intimate portrayal of an individual? This work acts as a powerful statement on how the personal intersects with the political.