Infanterist van het Republikeinse leger in Egypte 1839

This is Nicolas Toussaint Charlet’s "Infanterist van het Republikeinse leger in Egypte," a print made with black ink on paper. The printmaking process would have involved the artist creating an image on a matrix, perhaps a metal plate, and then using that to transfer the image to paper. The stark contrast of the black lines against the white paper creates a sense of immediacy, perfectly capturing the soldier's weary march across the Egyptian landscape. There’s a directness to the line work, which is a real hallmark of printmaking. Consider how this method democratizes art. Unlike a painting, which is a unique object, a print can be reproduced many times, making it more accessible to a wider audience. In this context, it allowed for the dissemination of imagery related to the Napoleonic campaigns, shaping public opinion and national identity. The making of this print, then, is deeply entwined with social and political forces. It is an object made with readily available materials for a mass audience. This allows us to understand how it functioned as a tool of propaganda, a celebration of military might, and a reflection of the era's fascination with distant lands.