Aftocht van Napoleon 1826 - 1886

Dirk Jurriaan Sluyter created this print, depicting Napoleon’s retreat, using etching and engraving. The stark contrasts, created by the precise, labourious process of cutting lines into a metal plate, amplify the image’s drama. Think about the engraver, bent over the plate, focused on the narrative. The lines, each one carefully placed, create texture and depth to evoke the chaos of the battlefield. Look closely and you will see how Sluyter uses densely packed lines to create shadows and volume, particularly on the figures of the fallen soldiers and the horses. This wasn't about quickly capturing a scene, like painting might have allowed. The choice of printmaking suggests a desire to disseminate the image widely, transforming a unique artwork into a commodity that could be reproduced and sold. It underscores how even seemingly traditional art forms are deeply entwined with the burgeoning capitalist systems of the 19th century, turning art into a product, and historical moments into marketable images.