Aanvallende officier te paard 1851 - 1870

Editor: Here we have Bernard Romain Julien's *Aanvallende officier te paard*, an undated charcoal drawing estimated to have been made between 1851 and 1870. It's really dramatic. I see a figure charging forward on horseback, a sword in hand, and broken armor at the bottom. What symbols do you see operating in this piece? Curator: The broken armor beneath the horse's hooves speaks volumes. What does it tell us about power, memory, and the romanticization of conflict in this era? It is important to see what persists even though the conflict itself does not. Editor: I suppose the shattered armor shows defeat, that violence leaves a lasting impact, while the horse symbolizes victory? Curator: It's more nuanced than that, I think. The horse itself is an ancient symbol – of power, virility, even nobility. However, look at how the rider is presented; the highly decorative saddle cloth and the plume denote aristocracy, but his gaze… do you think he is really in control, or does his anxiousness suggest the instability of the period? Editor: He does look anxious. So, the symbols aren’t so clear-cut? It’s more about how they play against each other. Curator: Precisely. Think about what it meant to depict an officer on horseback in mid-19th century Europe. The rise and fall of empires, revolutions, and changing social orders would likely mean more to viewers during this time, laden with anxieties. These were certainly potent visual shorthands, constantly renegotiated. Editor: I didn't really consider that there was commentary on aristocracy there. That is quite helpful, thank you. Curator: And the artist's use of charcoal gives the image a sense of immediacy and urgency that resonates even now. Cultural memory, after all, is rarely static.