Verdediging van de vlag 1800 - 1900

Eugène Lacomblé created "Verdediging van de vlag" - "Defense of the Flag" - from clay. Notice how the figure of a nude boy bravely hoists a flag, his determined gaze softened by the material's muted tones. The sculpture's subdued color palette encourages an emotional response, reflecting the artist’s nuanced interpretation of heroism. Lacomblé’s structural arrangement is intriguing; it creates meaning by questioning traditional notions of power. The smooth texture of the boy’s skin contrasts with the roughly hewn flag, challenging fixed meanings of strength. The artist draws our attention to the way this sculpture destabilizes the conventional image of a warrior. Its visual language encourages us to reconsider how art reflects and shapes the viewer's understanding of historical and cultural values.