Soldaten leven / Vie militaire 1856 - 1900

This print titled ‘Soldaten leven / Vie militaire’ was made by Lutzen. The piece is a meditation on military life and the way it intertwines with personal narratives. We see a series of vignettes, each illustrating a different aspect of a soldier's experience, from leave taking and intimate moments of connection, to the stark realities of military operations and the consequences of warfare. The artist’s choice to present these scenes side by side invites a comparison, and a sense of how the military life becomes an all-encompassing identity. Consider how the personal emotions of these soldiers echo across time. The scenes depicting the separation of families, and the ever-present shadow of loss.