Fuselier der Infanterie 1835 - 1850

Editor: Here we have "Fuselier der Infanterie" by Albertus Verhoesen, created sometime between 1835 and 1850. It's a watercolour and coloured-pencil drawing of a foot soldier, currently housed here at the Rijksmuseum. I’m immediately struck by the figure’s upright, almost stiff posture; there’s a sense of duty and perhaps a touch of melancholy in his eyes. What stands out to you? Curator: It's the uniform for me. Or perhaps the idea *of* a uniform. See how it's rendered so precisely, yet also, somehow, seems to imprison the figure? It makes me think about the loss of individual identity, about what is given up in the service of… well, whatever ideal this fusilier might have been fighting for. The slight wash of watercolour creates an almost dreamlike effect. Is he real? Or a figment, a shadow? The slight imperfection and subtle colouring of the uniform make it less a representation and more a lament, don’t you think? It evokes a powerful sense of vulnerability beneath that stoic facade. Editor: That's a poignant reading, the "lament" aspect. I was so focused on the somewhat detached expression I didn't quite register that. Do you see that intention as tied to the technique, the watercolour and the lines of colored pencil? Curator: I'd venture to say so, yes. Notice the softness, the way the colours blend, or *don't*. I get a distinct feeling Verhoesen wanted us to feel that delicate human core inside what society dictates is an impervious, unwavering *soldier*. This delicate rendering acts, quite powerfully, against the conventional understanding of military strength. The human touches undermine any bravado. Almost… anti-heroic? Editor: It really changes how I perceive the image. It goes beyond just a portrait of a soldier to something much more emotionally complex. Thank you! Curator: My pleasure! It's rewarding to connect with art, and perhaps see what might not always be on the surface, isn't it?