Wilt g' u nog eens goed vermaken, / Ferme jongens, flinke knapen [(...)] 1827 - 1894

M. Hemeleers-van Houter created this print, a sequence of soldiers and drummers in a line, sometime before 1880. Immediately, one is struck by the repetition of the figure, each in a different pose, like a comic strip. The drum is central; it's a tool for communication and control. The motif of the drum echoes across time. Consider the ancient Roman army and their use of drums to maintain order in battle, or ritualistic drum circles found in indigenous cultures used to build unity and rhythm. The drumbeat also carries the weight of command and order. Yet, the drum can also be seen as a symbol of subversion, resonating with ancient Dionysian rites where the drumbeat incited ecstatic frenzy, liberation, and the blurring of societal boundaries. We can ask, does this humble print show us the progression of soldiers marching into battle, or a deeper rhythm inherent in collective human experience?