Siddende soldat 1850 - 1908

Frants Henningsen made this drawing, called "Sitting Soldier", using ink on paper. The stark contrast of the ink creates a somber mood, reflecting on the toll that military service takes on the individual. Henningsen's choice of ink as a medium is significant. Unlike the laborious process of oil painting, ink lends itself to quick, efficient work - a means of production that mirrors the rapid mobilization of soldiers in times of conflict. The way he uses washes of ink shows an efficient, almost journalistic approach. The image also evokes broader social issues related to labor and class. Soldiers, often drawn from the working classes, are subject to strict discipline and harsh conditions, their labor conscripted for the purposes of the state. By attending to the materials and making of Henningsen's drawing, we see how it captures the realities of military service and speaks to wider issues of power, class, and conflict.