Laatste aanval in Waterloo 1834

Auguste Raffet created this lithograph titled 'Last attack in Waterloo'. Raffet made this print during a period of intense nationalism and romanticization of military events. The print depicts the final moments of the Battle of Waterloo, a crushing defeat for Napoleon Bonaparte and a pivotal moment in European history. In this tumultuous scene, the artist invites us to consider the human cost of war, and what it asks of the soldiers. The composition emphasizes the chaos and violence of the battle; soldiers are depicted in a state of frenzy, horses rear up in panic, and the ground is littered with the dead and wounded. Here, war isn’t just an abstract geopolitical event, but a brutal lived experience. The print encapsulates the emotional weight of warfare, inviting viewers to reflect on the broader implications of conflict and its lasting impact on society.