Afscheid van de dienstplichtigen 1881

Auguste Danse created this print, 'Afscheid van de dienstplichtigen', which translates to 'Farewell to the Conscripts', in Belgium in 1885. It captures a poignant moment laden with social and political weight. The image depicts young men departing for military service, surrounded by their families in a scene of mixed emotions. The architecture in the background suggests a public space, perhaps a town hall, underscoring the public role of military service. In 19th-century Belgium, military conscription was a contentious issue, often resisted by working-class families who needed their sons' labor. Danse’s print doesn’t shy away from showing the class distinctions of the time; it invites us to consider whose sons were being sent off to serve. To fully understand Danse's print, we can turn to the archives to uncover the social and political debates surrounding military service in Belgium during that era, which can help us interpret the cultural meaning of the artwork.