Bivak in een zwijnenstal, 1832 1832 - 1833

Nicolas Toussaint Charlet created this lithograph called "Bivouac in a Pigsty" in 1832. Charlet was known for his depictions of military life, particularly his empathetic portrayals of soldiers. Here, a soldier is seen taking shelter in a pigsty, a space shared with animals and redolent with the stench of the barnyard. What does it mean to make this image? The visual realism, in its depiction of the soldier’s weary posture and the intimate scene, humanizes the soldier and underscores the hardships endured during military campaigns, which for many would have been traumatic, even fatal. Charlet’s choice to depict a soldier in such a vulnerable state disrupts traditional heroic narratives of war. He highlights the lived experiences of ordinary soldiers. By focusing on these grittier aspects of military life, Charlet's work provides a counter-narrative to the glorification of war, inviting reflection on its human cost. This print asks us to empathize with the individual experiences of soldiers and to consider the social realities of military life during this period.