Ontklede soldaat wordt weggedragen door vier andere soldaten 1753

Johann Georg Wille created this print, "Undressed soldier being carried away by four other soldiers," in 1785. It invites us to consider the socio-political context of military life in 18th-century Europe. Wille uses visual codes to convey the vulnerability and dehumanization that can occur within military structures. We see the undressed soldier, stripped of his uniform, a symbol of his identity and status. The cultural references to classical depictions of fallen heroes are subverted; this is not a glorious death but a stark portrayal of war's physical and psychological toll. The image may be commenting on the social structures of its time. Understanding this work benefits from researching military history, social hierarchies, and the role of art in critiquing power. The meaning of art is contingent on social and institutional context.