Trompetter te paard, naar rechts gewend 1874

Edouard Detaille created this print, "Trumpeter on Horseback, Facing Right," using etching. It depicts a mounted trumpeter, an image that offers insight into the military culture of late 19th-century France, shaped by events such as the Franco-Prussian War. Detaille, deeply influenced by his personal experiences and patriotic sentiments, became known for his detailed and romanticized depictions of military life. While seemingly a straightforward representation, this work invites us to consider the role of the military in shaping national identity and collective memory. How does the figure of the trumpeter— poised between individual action and collective purpose—reflect the complex interplay of duty, honor, and sacrifice? The print leaves us pondering the narratives of courage and camaraderie, and asks us to critically examine the emotional and ideological underpinnings of military culture.