Standing soldier with his hand on the helm of his sword 1820 - 1866

Victor Adam created this print, "Standing soldier with his hand on the helm of his sword," during the 19th century. The sword is not merely an object; it's a charged symbol of power, justice, and martial prowess. Note how the soldier's hand rests upon its hilt, a gesture we find echoed across centuries, from ancient Roman sculptures to Renaissance portraits. Consider the classical statue of Marcus Aurelius on horseback. His hand, too, suggests control and authority. This gesture evokes the *imago*, or ancestral mask, of Roman leaders, embodying cultural memory and the continuity of power. However, the soldier in Adam’s print is not mounted on a horse but on foot, suggesting a shift in the nature of warfare and leadership. This hand on the sword becomes a personal assertion of power rather than an inherited right. The sword, therefore, engages us on a visceral level. It speaks of protection, of command, and the ever-present tension between war and peace, resurfacing across history and taking on new meanings in evolving contexts.