Slag bij Waterloo, 1815 Possibly 1819

This print, "Slag bij Waterloo, 1815", was created by John Burnet using engraving techniques. The composition strikes you immediately with its division between foreground and background. The foreground presents a scene of immediate aftermath, with fallen soldiers and active participants, while the background unfolds into a vast panorama of battle, obscured by smoke and distance. Burnet uses line and texture to create depth, guiding our eye from the detailed foreground to the more vaguely defined background. This technique compresses the scale of the battle, making it seem both immense and contained. The engraving’s play of light and shadow is critical here. The lighter tones emphasize the chaos and activity, while the darker areas frame the devastation, creating a stark contrast. This is not just a depiction of a historical event; it is an artful construction of a scene, carefully designed to manage our perception of war and its consequences. It challenges fixed meanings and prompts new ways of thinking about space and representation.