Karikatur af en soldat i profil til venstre. Hans venstre arm ligger i bind, men bærer dog et gevær. 1743 - 1809

This is Nicolai Abildgaard’s ink drawing of a soldier in profile. While the exact date of this work is unknown, Abildgaard lived through a time of significant political upheaval in Europe, including the French Revolution. Here, the wounded soldier, his arm in a sling, becomes a figure of both strength and vulnerability. Abildgaard captures the emotional complexity of military life, where bravery and suffering are intertwined. The soldier is not depicted in heroic action, but in a moment of quiet endurance, bearing arms despite his injury. Is this a comment on the cost of war? Does it emphasize the emotional and physical toll exacted on the common soldier? Abildgaard prompts us to consider the human stories behind the grand narratives of conflict. The artist invites us to reflect on the often-unseen sacrifices made by individuals caught in the crosscurrents of history.