Fransche kavallerie in de Krim 1848 - 1881

Lutkie & Cranenburg created this print, Fransche kavallerie in de Krim, depicting French cavalry in the Crimea. Without specific dates, we can still infer much about the historical and cultural contexts that shaped its creation. The Crimean War, fought in the mid-19th century, pitted an alliance including France against Russia. Visual culture of this time often romanticized military campaigns. The print presents a stylized, orderly view of the French cavalry. Uniformity in dress and posture evoke a sense of power and control. Yet, this image also invites us to consider the complexities of war, which were certainly not orderly. It prompts reflection on the experience of the Crimean people under foreign military presence. It makes me wonder, whose stories are not being told in this depiction of war? This image leaves me searching for the untold stories and the muted voices of the Crimean war.