Drie Franse huzaren Possibly 1886

Karel Frederik Bombled made this watercolor drawing of three French Hussars some time in the 19th century. In this piece, we see three soldiers atop their horses on a small hillside in the French countryside. But it is the uniform that is of the utmost importance here. French Hussars were light cavalrymen who originated in Hungary, spreading through Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries. Their elaborate, colorful uniforms became iconic symbols of military prowess and national identity. Bombled, a Dutch artist who specialized in military scenes, emphasizes these sartorial details, in doing so playing into a sense of French military pride and nationalism, likely hoping to attract commissions from members of the military or their families. Historians of art and culture can use sources, such as military records, fashion plates, and popular prints, to better understand the social meanings embedded in seemingly straightforward depictions of military figures. Art like this then gives us insight into the ways that national and military institutions were viewed in Bombled’s time.