Engelse en Russische militair 1790 - 1818

Jan Anthonie Langendijk made this print of an English guardsman and a Russian grenadier sometime around the turn of the 19th century. It reflects a moment of alliance between these two great powers against Napoleonic France. The image creates meaning through the symbolic association of national uniforms. Note the contrast between the British soldier in his practical red coat, his kit for survival strapped to his back, and the flamboyance of the Russian, with his decorative headdress. These visual codes would have spoken volumes to contemporary viewers. Made in the Netherlands, this print is an artwork that engages with the political context of its time. It reflects the cultural and political alliances that were forming against the backdrop of the Napoleonic Wars. To understand it better, one might study military history, looking at period documents, enlistment records, and, of course, other examples of popular imagery. By uncovering the historical context, we start to see the deeper meanings embedded within the artwork.