Militairen 1827 - 1894

This sheet of paper, "Militairen," was made by M. Hemeleers-van Houter, sometime before 1880. At first glance, the work seems like a straightforward depiction of soldiers, yet the use of paper as a medium, combined with a near-naive execution, complicates this reading. Each figure is rendered with rudimentary lines and blocks of color, challenging our conventional understanding of military portraiture. The artist's choice of materials is critical. Paper, typically associated with ephemerality and accessibility, contrasts sharply with the permanence and authority usually projected by military imagery. The flat, almost childlike application of watercolor further underscores this tension, evoking the world of children's toys or paper dolls. The repetitive figures suggest a method of mass production. The work engages with social issues of labor, class, and the role of military in society. By subverting traditional artistic norms, the artist invites us to reconsider the meaning of military representation.