Turkse mannen die soldaten rekruteren, 10 november 1837 1848

This is a lithograph called ‘Turkse mannen die soldaten rekruteren’, or ‘Turkish Men Recruiting Soldiers’, made by Auguste Raffet on November 10, 1837. The sepia-toned print shows us seven men in a light open space. The composition is simple and effective. At the forefront stands a man, centrally placed, flanked by others fading into the background. Notice how Raffet uses subtle tonal gradations to create depth, with the figures becoming less distinct as they recede. It gives the impression of a gathering, a staging of bodies ready for recruitment. Raffet’s focus is on the human form, rendered with careful attention to musculature and posture. The men’s turbans add height and a collective identity. By emphasizing the formal arrangement and the physical presence of these figures, Raffet directs our attention to their collective role rather than individual stories. The print serves as an exercise in representation, capturing the essence of a moment in military history.