Twee militairen te paard houden de wacht in de sneeuw 1834

Nicolas Toussaint Charlet made this print of two soldiers on horseback keeping watch in the snow. The soldiers, with their vigilant watch, their horses, and even the dog, all speak to the age-old human need for protection and order. Consider how the image of a horse carries echoes through time, from the classical statues of emperors on horseback, symbols of power and dominion, to its appearance in the medieval period representing nobility and chivalry. Even here, the horse is not merely a means of transport; it elevates the soldier, setting him apart and reinforcing his authority. The act of guarding can be seen represented even in antiquity. Think of the Roman god Janus, who looks both forward and backward. In this image, the emotional weight of duty and vigilance is palpable; the soldiers’ stance and the presence of the watchful dog evoke the tension inherent in their role. This print isn't just a depiction of military life, but an emotional and psychological tableau of human vigilance, an enduring theme that resurfaces across history.