Aanval op Valenciennes, 25 juli 1793 Possibly 1801 - 1812

William Bromley I created this print depicting the Attack on Valenciennes in 1793. Here, we see a scene dominated by the chaos of war. Look closely, and you'll notice how Bromley uses the iconography of military might – the horses, cannons, and uniformed soldiers – to convey a sense of power and order amidst the destruction. Now, consider how similar scenes have been depicted throughout history. The image of the horse, a symbol of strength and nobility, appears in countless battle scenes from ancient friezes to Renaissance paintings. Yet, here, the horse is part of a chaotic machinery of war, reflecting a shift in its symbolic role. This depiction of war touches on our collective memory of conflict. It also evokes a primal, psychological response. The raw emotion conveyed engages viewers on a subconscious level. We must recognize the non-linear progression of such symbols, and how they resurface and evolve across time.