Cossacks riding along a riverbank 1814

Friedrich August de La Belle made this print of Cossacks along a riverbank sometime before his death in 1845. The image presents a romantic view of Cossack military life, likely intended for a European audience fascinated by the exotic East. Produced in Germany, the print reflects a broader European interest in Russia and its diverse ethnic groups. It uses visual codes – the men’s distinctive clothing and weaponry – to signify their "Cossackness." This imagery was shaped by travel narratives and military reports, constructing an idea of the Cossacks as both fierce warriors and figures of folklore. To understand this image, we can turn to archives of military history, travel literature, and the history of printmaking. These sources help us recognize how de la Belle’s image participates in the political and cultural narratives of his time, shaping perceptions of a distant land and its people. Art is always contingent on such social and institutional contexts.