15de-eeuws harnas met zwaard en hakbijl uit het leger van Karel VII van Frankrijk, uit de collectie van het Musée d'Artillerie in Parijs before 1882

This photograph captures a 15th-century armour with sword and hatchet, once part of Charles VII of France's army and now residing in the Musée d'Artillerie collection in Paris. The visual structure of this image is dominated by the stark, almost ghostly presence of the armour. The photographer has positioned the armour centrally, its metallic surface reflecting light in a way that emphasizes its cold, hard materiality. The composition is rigidly vertical, reinforcing the armour's imposing stature and lending a sense of unwavering resolve. Consider the semiotics at play: the hatchet and sword are potent symbols of military power and feudal hierarchy. Yet, frozen in time, the armour stands as a signifier of past conflicts, inviting us to reflect on the ever-changing codes of power and representation. The photo's monochromatic palette strips away the potential for color to distract from the underlying form and texture of the armour itself. The image's strength resides in how its formal qualities, such as the sharp contrast and structured composition, not only render a historical artifact but also invite us to reflect on themes of protection, conflict, and the passage of time.