Slag van Waterloo / Bataille de Waterloo 1800 - 1833

Philippus Jacobus Brepols created this print of the Battle of Waterloo sometime around 1815 using an engraving technique. In its time, art such as this played a vital public role, disseminating visual information about contemporary political and military events. In this rather stylized and idealized depiction, meaning is created through visual codes that would have been easily legible to contemporary viewers. The battle, which took place in present-day Belgium, was a pivotal moment in European history. The defeat of Napoleon and his army by the allied forces of Britain, the Netherlands and Prussia, marked the end of the Napoleonic Wars and reshaped the political map of Europe. In the Netherlands, the battle was seen as a victory for national independence and the establishment of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. To understand the significance of this artwork, historical research into the political and cultural context in which it was made would be invaluable, helping us to understand the social conditions that shaped its production and reception.