Livius, Book XXI, Chapter 33, from the portfolio "Hannibal's March over the Alps" c. 19th century

Curator: What strikes you first about this image of Hannibal's troops hacking their way through the Alps? Alfred Rethel really captures a sense of frantic activity here. Editor: A kind of brutal poetry, right? I mean, all that effort and strain etched so finely... it feels almost sacred, like some dark ritual. Curator: It’s an illustration titled "Livius, Book XXI, Chapter 33, from the portfolio 'Hannibal's March over the Alps'". It visualizes a key moment from Livy's account of Hannibal's campaign. Look closely at the material labor involved in moving this army. Editor: I can almost feel the chill of those mountains in the ink! Did Rethel ever actually climb in the Alps himself? Curator: I'm unsure, but his focus here is on the labor, the collective effort. See how the work is divided? Some chop, others lever, still others support. It’s a whole system. Editor: I suppose. But for me, it's the feeling that lingers—a strange mix of awe and exhaustion. So much effort, so much... stone. Curator: Yes, the materiality of the mountain itself becomes a central theme. Editor: Well, that’s something to chew on as we imagine what lay ahead for Hannibal and his army. Curator: Indeed. This print offers us insight into the human cost of military campaigns.