Detail uit het schilderij De Slag bij Waterloo 1789 - 1853

Jan Willem Pieneman created this drawing, a detail from his painting "The Battle of Waterloo," using graphite. The artwork depicts a pivotal moment in European history, capturing the chaos and intensity of warfare. Made in the Netherlands, we can consider the cultural and political context of the early 19th century. Following the Napoleonic Wars, there was a surge of nationalism across Europe. Pieneman’s artwork reflects the Dutch perspective on the Battle of Waterloo, celebrating the defeat of Napoleon and the restoration of the monarchy. The depiction of warfare also relates to the institutional history of military power and its impact on society. To understand the image better, we might investigate military history, the biographies of key figures, and visual sources related to the Napoleonic Wars. Art is never made in a vacuum. Its meaning depends upon the social and institutional contexts in which it appears.