Cavalry Skirmish 1658 - 1661

Adam Frans van der Meulen created this painting, Cavalry Skirmish, during a period marked by significant military conflict and the rise of powerful European monarchies. Van der Meulen's detailed battle scenes, like this one, were not just depictions of war but also served as instruments of power and propaganda. Serving as court painter for Louis XIV, he glorified the king's military campaigns, crafting imagery that reinforced the monarchy's authority. What does it mean when the drama and chaos of battle becomes a spectacle, a carefully crafted narrative meant to bolster the status of those in power? Consider too, the perspective of those absent from the canvas: the common soldiers, the colonized populations impacted by these wars, or even the horses themselves, here depicted as instruments of conflict. The painting offers a selective view of history, one that highlights the grandeur of leadership while obscuring the experiences of those most affected by its decisions.