Engelsche jagers / Chasseurs anglaises 1866 - 1902

Editor: This print, “Engelsche jagers / Chasseurs anglaises”, meaning "English Hunters", is attributed to Franciscus Antonius Beersmans and was likely created sometime between 1866 and 1902. It’s an engraving, showcasing rows of soldiers on horseback. It strikes me as incredibly regimented. What do you see in it? Curator: Oh, honey, regimented is just the half of it! To me, it feels like a dance macabre on horseback, doesn’t it? Look at the detail, so precise, so… unsettlingly neat. It reminds me of a child meticulously arranging toy soldiers, unaware of the grim realities they represent. What do you make of their identical poses and expressions? Editor: It definitely amplifies the sense of uniformity and perhaps a loss of individuality in warfare. But I hadn't considered that innocent, almost naive element you mentioned. Curator: Precisely! There's a strange beauty in that stark order, yet it's simultaneously chilling. It is, in my view, about as useful in a 19th century context as a chocolate teapot, although pretty as can be, it seems divorced from the realities of the battlefield – it speaks to order over function, I imagine! The vibrant colors feel almost… theatrical. Doesn't it make you wonder if this is a romanticized, rather than realistic, depiction? Editor: Absolutely. That romantic ideal clashes with the historical context. I learned that the style is Realism which at the time was aimed at painting things as they truly were. Is this Realism in name only, maybe? Curator: Perhaps! I do wonder… isn't there something truly intriguing about art's constant dance between representation and imagination? Editor: Absolutely. I never would have seen all of that! I now have much better food for thought when I see similar prints. Curator: Fantastic. Me too! Let's talk about chocolate teapots next time…