Twee veldslagen uit de Krimoorlog, 1855 1855

Curator: Up next we have “Twee veldslagen uit de Krimoorlog, 1855,” two battle scenes from the Crimean War, created by Jules Worms, mostly with pen and ink I believe. Editor: Well, my first impression is utter chaos, wouldn't you agree? A very effective chaos though, you can almost hear the pounding of hooves and the clash of steel. The composition really leads the eye into these frantic scenes. Curator: Indeed! The artwork consists of two distinct scenes stacked one above the other, a diptych almost contained within a single frame. The upper one depicts a cavalry charge, and the lower, what appears to be an infantry assault, all rendered with incredible detail despite what I assume is a relatively small scale, which intensifies that sense of frenzy you astutely noted. Editor: Exactly, the density of detail in each scene, yet presented with such fine lines, speaks to both the scale of the battles themselves and the artist's skillful hand. I think the medium here is crucial; the monochrome and etched quality adds a historical distance, don't you think? It feels…documentarian. Curator: Yes, you nailed it! There is an almost reportage style about this; this piece seems aimed at capturing and conveying specific details of battles during the Crimean War. He probably knew very little about those details, I bet it all came to him second-hand, wouldn’t surprise me if this Worms never set foot on a battlefield himself! Editor: A fair point. Still, that distance – literal or artistic – frames our interpretation; it pushes us to contemplate the strategies of war and the massing of men, rather than say, the individual suffering which I think a different artist may focus on, even at this time. Also I find the placement of a large ballon in the back particularly interesting! Curator: Hmmm… the question of the individual... yes. Worms chose breadth rather than depth and the ballon! This is a marvelous detail to pinpoint indeed…it definitely opens a window to consider the modernization of war. It’s truly a masterful rendering that captures the war from an interesting angle, let me use that expression! Editor: Right. Well, thinking about it now I leave with more questions than I started, that’s always the sign of a good piece.