Hertog van Wellington ontvangt tijdens de slag bij Waterloo twee op de Fransen veroverde standaarden met adelaars, 1815 1818

P. Mottet created this print in 1815, depicting the Duke of Wellington receiving captured French standards at the Battle of Waterloo. The image encapsulates the triumphant moment of British victory during a period of intense European conflict, yet it also raises questions about the narratives of power and identity constructed around such events. The focus on Wellington, framed as a heroic figure, reinforces a traditional, patriarchal view of military leadership. However, if you look closely, the hands presenting the standards are those of Black soldiers, who were a vital yet often overlooked segment of the British army. What does it mean to see Black bodies centered in this image of imperial victory? The print, therefore, becomes more than a straightforward depiction of triumph; it reveals the complex layers of race, class, and colonial power intertwined within the historical moment. The emotional weight of this piece is heavy, as the artist is asking us to think about who is allowed to be seen as a hero, and who is erased.