Two Grenadiers 

Victor Adam created "Two Grenadiers" using pen and brown ink with gray wash on paper. The sepia tones create a sense of depth through delicate shading which softens the military subject matter. Consider the composition: the soldiers are placed closely together. Adam uses line and form to construct the grenadiers' uniforms and postures. Note how this attention to detail contrasts with the looser handling of the background which depicts other soldiers and buildings. This contrast may be interpreted through semiotics. The grenadiers, rendered with sharp lines, symbolize the formal structure of military life, while the indistinct background suggests the chaos of war. The drawing may challenge fixed meanings about military heroism through its subtle depiction of the human figure. Through the use of structured form against amorphous space, the work encourages us to question established values.