Binnenzijde van het ingegraven veldhospitaal van de Citadel van Antwerpen, 1832 1832

Auguste Raffet created this print in 1832, depicting the interior of a field hospital within the Citadel of Antwerp. It offers a somber view of 19th-century military conflict. The scene conveys the grim realities of war, far from any romantic ideal. The wounded and dying fill the confined space, attended by figures who may be doctors, priests, or fellow soldiers. Made in the aftermath of the Belgian Revolution, this image implicitly critiques the human cost of the conflict. During the Revolution, the Dutch army bombarded Antwerp in an attempt to regain control over the city. The print's existence speaks to a growing public interest in the realities of warfare, fuelled by newspapers and illustrated journals. Its value lies not only in its aesthetic qualities but also in its role as a historical document reflecting attitudes towards military conflict during a period of European upheaval. Such a print would have circulated widely. By studying it, along with archival sources, we gain insight into the social and institutional contexts that shape the experience and memory of war.