Slag bij Rocourt, 1746 1771

Antoine Benoist made this print of the Battle of Rocourt in 1771. It presents a highly mediated view of warfare in the mid-18th century. Consider the politics of imagery here. This battle was part of the War of the Austrian Succession, a conflict with long-term significance for the map of Europe. It pitted France against the British, Dutch and Austrian armies. Yet here it is presented in a way designed to glorify the French military. Visual codes abound with the drama of conflict, the billowing smoke and flurry of horses. The French army, led by Marshal Saxe, is presented as heroic and victorious, in the tradition of state-sponsored art. The print medium meant this image could be widely circulated. The intention was surely to shore up national sentiment and celebrate the Bourbon monarchy, which had established various institutions to promote the arts. This image offers a glimpse into how art served the interests of state power. Historians consult a wide range of sources, including military records and political documents to understand the reality behind such visual displays. What this image leaves out can be just as important as what it shows.