Cavalry Battle 1803 - 1807

This "Cavalry Battle" scene, by Jan Antony Langendijk, was made with pen, brown ink and brush in gray ink. The artist’s hand is evident through his use of lines and washes. With traditional art materials and processes, the artist created a dynamic scene of war, using ink’s fluidity to evoke the chaos of battle. The weight of the subject is at odds with the lightness of the medium; war is brutal, and death is heavy, however, the visual impact is airy and relatively weightless. Langendijk also engaged with a history of creative practices and aesthetics; printmaking. As such, there is a relationship between the amount of work involved in production and consumption. It is important to understand an artwork through its materials, techniques and processes, recognizing the vital role of context in expanding our appreciation, beyond traditional distinctions between art and craft.