Gezicht op de slag bij Lafelt, 1747 1747 - 1748

Curator: Here we have Jean Baptiste Guélard’s engraving, "View of the Battle of Lauffeldt Won by King Louis XV against the Allied Army on 11 July 1747," created between 1747 and 1748. It offers an intriguing, almost clinical perspective on the battlefield. Editor: Clinical is a good word. My immediate impression is a sense of unsettling detachment. The meticulous details create a strange sense of order out of the chaos of war. It almost resembles a map more than a scene of conflict. Curator: Exactly. This piece fits within a tradition of history paintings commissioned to solidify royal power. Guélard's engraving visualizes Louis XV’s victory, shaping its memory for public consumption and reinforcing his image as a triumphant leader. Editor: But look closer. Despite the declared victory, the image presents a very flattened view. It lacks dynamism. Doesn’t that contribute to a strange glorification of power by rendering people as small units? I'm curious about what was intentionally omitted. Where are the wounded, the terror? The price of war, usually paid by everyday folks? Curator: That absence is telling. This wasn't intended as a raw, emotional account but a calculated projection of strength. The style—the clean lines and orderly arrangement—is very much in keeping with the Baroque aesthetic prevalent at the time. Note how this bird's eye perspective detaches the viewer, almost enabling them to strategize. It’s very much about control. Editor: It makes you think about who this piece served and its role in perpetuating the status quo. What was its social function? Even in its omissions, the work says so much about the elite narrative it promotes and at what cost. Curator: Indeed, thinking critically about the historical contexts allows us to unravel the complex interplay between art, power, and social control. Editor: Looking closely allows us to remember that the political use of imagery continues today and requires a watchful, critical eye.