A Battle Between Cavalrymen and Infantry 1800 - 1850

This 18th-century drawing by Dirk Langendijk depicts a chaotic scene of a battle between cavalrymen and infantry. The work, created in a wash of grey tones, captures the action and violence of the event with dramatic detail. The scene is dominated by a group of soldiers on horseback, their swords raised, attacking a smaller group of infantrymen who are fighting back with determination. Despite the monochromatic palette, the artist conveys the movement and energy of the battle with skillful use of line and shadow. This piece is currently housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.