Drie soldaten op wacht met de bajonet op het geweer 1870

Léon Marie Constant Dansaert made this print of three soldiers on watch with the bayonet on the rifle. The image presents an intriguing view into the social history of 19th-century Europe, perhaps Belgium, Dansaert's home. At first glance, it depicts a routine military scene, but it subtly invites us to examine the role of the military within the socio-political context of the time. Note how the artist chooses to portray the soldiers in a moment of apparent idleness, almost as if they were removed from the heat of battle or the execution of their duties. The decision to show them chatting could be a deliberate comment on the realities of military life, filled with prolonged periods of waiting punctuated by brief moments of action. This approach humanizes the soldiers, turning them from symbols of state power into individuals with their own lives and conversations. To fully appreciate this artwork, one could delve into archives to uncover details about the Belgian army during Dansaert's lifetime. Research into the social status and daily lives of soldiers could further illuminate the artist's intentions.