Where is the Plague of the Army? 1832

Curator: Nicolas Toussaint Charlet, who lived from 1792 to 1845, created this image, titled, "Where is the Plague of the Army?" Editor: It’s stark, this black and white composition. The soldiers look grim, weighed down by something. Curator: The plague, perhaps? Consider how Charlet uses the figure playing the pipe. Is he distracting from the misery or commenting on it? Editor: I see it as commentary, a stark contrast. The music seems to mock the grim reality of war and those who are subjected to it. The text below indicates that the plague resides among the wounded or about to be shot. Curator: The musical pipe is an ancient symbol—often associated with pastoral life, even healing—but here it seems to signal something more insidious, wouldn't you agree? Editor: I do. This image prompts us to consider the many ways war inflicts its "plague," not just through disease or injury, but also through the destruction of the human spirit and even a society’s moral fiber. Curator: A sobering reminder that symbols often carry multiple, even contradictory meanings. Editor: Yes, art like this forces us to question whose stories are told, and who is left to bear the cost of conflict.