Soldaat als boer 1816 - 1882

Edouard Schuler created this print titled 'Soldier as a Farmer'. Observe how Schuler captures the profound shift in the soldier's identity through his downcast gaze. In antiquity, warriors were lauded as symbols of strength and valor. This motif of the warrior is seen in the marble statues of Roman emperors, or the heroic depictions of soldiers in Renaissance paintings. Here, though, Schuler echoes the motif and undermines it, to signal a profound transformation. The bowed head, the posture of resignation, and the discarded military gear speak volumes about the psychological toll of war. One can trace this melancholic posture through epochs, from depictions of the weary Odysseus returning home to the grieving figures in funerary art. This symbol transcends time. Schuler's artwork reveals the cyclical nature of human experience and the recurring theme of transformation. The image invites us to contemplate the complex interplay between duty, identity, and the enduring human spirit.