Hier ziet gij de krijgers gereed om te strijden / En 't land van den vijand geheel te bevrijden 1850 - 1870

Curator: This print, dating from 1850 to 1870, is titled "Hier ziet gij de krijgers gereed om te strijden / En 't land van den vijand geheel te bevrijden," which translates to "Here you see the warriors ready to fight / And to liberate the land from the enemy completely." It's currently housed in the Rijksmuseum. Editor: Immediately, it strikes me as almost whimsical despite the martial subject matter. The simple lines, the pastel-like washes of color... It has a storybook quality. Curator: Absolutely. The piece resonates with the socio-political context of mid-19th century Europe, specifically the rise of nationalism and sentiments regarding warfare, the printing would have served a specific, quite possibly patriotic, narrative for public consumption. Note the uniformity in attire amongst the men as if to create the perfect fighting machine. Editor: And consider the engraving process itself. Printmaking at this time would involve skilled labor and standardized methods of reproduction; highlighting the process makes us aware of this artwork as a constructed object and not necessarily of neutral intention. The images are sequential almost in comic strip-like fashion, how might they operate on the audience's view of production in war? Curator: This engraving invites us to reflect on how historical narratives can be shaped and reinforced through reproducible media. This piece potentially romanticizes military campaigns through sequential illustrations of heroic soldiers. Each pose represents specific movements which contributes to their visual presence but further emphasizes propaganda! Editor: The stylized representation of soldiers arguably reflects power structures and historical stereotypes related to conflicts during this period. Even today, thinking about our relationship to printed images offers many levels of access to the making of the artwork itself; as a piece created and then broadly distributed. Curator: Right, understanding the production and dissemination process reveals significant dimensions regarding power dynamics and societal messaging. Editor: Ultimately, thinking through this historical work deepens my perception of conflict as portrayed today via manufactured media. Curator: I agree; dissecting the layers of this period print gives an important point to considering warfare across cultural lenses.