Inname van Menen, 1744 1835 - 1840

This etching, "Inname van Menen, 1744," was created by an anonymous artist. It illustrates the siege of Menen, a key event during the War of the Austrian Succession. Focusing on the victors, this image reflects the era's emphasis on military might and territorial conquest. We see equestrian figures, presumably commanders, surveying the scene. The common soldier, the human cost, is relegated to the background. What does it mean to document war? What does it mean to leave out the suffering? Consider the role of anonymity here. The artist’s name is absent, obscured. This absence raises questions about the narratives and perspectives that are often left out of historical accounts. Whose stories are prioritized, and whose are forgotten in the grand narratives of war and power? It beckons us to reflect on the human cost of conflict, and the stories that remain untold.