Weglopende militair en een drinkende militair before 1889

Editor: This is "Weglopende militair en een drinkende militair" by Jan Hoynck van Papendrecht, made before 1889 using ink on paper. There's something about the starkness of the ink drawings, the two separate scenes, that feels… critical, maybe even a bit cynical. How do you interpret this work? Curator: Cynicism is a great starting point. I see this work engaging with the visual language of militarism, but simultaneously undermining it. The very title – "running away" and "drinking" – hints at a rejection of the idealized soldier figure often portrayed. This was a period of burgeoning nationalism across Europe; how does Papendrecht engage, or perhaps disrupt, that narrative? Editor: I see what you mean. The soldiers seem almost caricatures. Is he trying to critique the blind patriotism of the time? Curator: Exactly! Consider the context: 19th-century Europe. Ideas of duty, national pride, and military prowess were constantly being reinforced through art. By presenting these soldiers as flawed, even ridiculous, Papendrecht offers a counter-narrative. Think about how social class and power dynamics might play into military life; who were these soldiers, and what were they really fighting for? Editor: That's such a great point about social class. Maybe he's questioning whose interests the military truly served back then? Curator: Precisely! And it's not just about the "grand narratives" of war. It also humanizes the individuals caught up in it, showing their vulnerabilities, their escapism through drink, and their reluctance to fight. Are these actions subversive for that time period, do you think? Editor: Definitely subversive. I hadn't considered how subversive it might be to depict soldiers outside of an explicitly heroic light. Curator: Right? Now, considering other images by this artist, does this seem like an anomaly or a consistent position he holds in his art? Editor: It really makes you think about what we glorify, even now. I’ll definitely be researching his other works, as this was more than just a sketch!