Military scene with a cross at right 1835 - 1865

August Beck created this print, titled "Military scene with a cross at right", in the mid-19th century. The image depicts a chaotic battle scene, full of men on horseback and the detritus of war. Beck, who lived through a period of significant social and political upheaval in Europe, would have been keenly aware of the human costs of conflict, with the rise of nationalism frequently erupting into warfare. What are the personal and collective traumas of the men in the picture? The way the cross looms over the scene perhaps indicates the tension between faith and violence. Is it a symbol of hope or a silent witness to the atrocities of war? The artwork maintains traditional representations of military might, yet also develops alternative narratives by subtly questioning the justifications of war. The landscape itself becomes a character in the drama, a silent witness to human conflict. This engraving serves as a potent reminder of the emotional and psychological toll of war.