Recruitment of Troops, plate two from The Large Miseries of War n.d.

Editor: This print, "Recruitment of Troops," part of a series called "The Large Miseries of War," is unsigned and undated, but held at the Art Institute of Chicago. It's an etching and engraving showing lines of soldiers and some men seated around a table in what looks like a military camp. I’m struck by how small everyone is, yet how regimented and purposeful their actions seem. What story do you see unfolding here? Curator: The image speaks to the organized spectacle and pervasive social impact of military recruitment during periods of prolonged conflict. Notice the sharp contrast between the soldiers drilling, the city looming, and the officers seemingly detached, perhaps gambling, which draws attention to institutional structures facilitating and benefiting from war. What might this juxtaposition reveal about the artist’s commentary on the politics of warfare? Editor: I see what you mean, it is a commentary. I didn’t initially notice how those in the back look as important as the soldiers in the front because the perspective is compressed. I suppose I was seeing a historical record and not thinking of the cultural forces at play in image making. How did prints like these function as a form of political commentary, and what was their intended audience? Curator: Prints like these circulated widely and cheaply, disseminating political critiques to a broad public. Consider that prints made war relatable, revealing some harsh realities. Did the messages incite change or resistance against the institutional forces controlling society? Editor: Now that you point it out, I think it may have tried to do that, to inspire some changes. Curator: These kinds of artworks, in effect, contributed to forming public discourse on conflict and power. Editor: Thank you; this gives me so much more to think about in terms of the image and its effects. Curator: Indeed, exploring how such art reflects social conditions expands our understanding of history beyond battles and treaties.