Standing Soldier: Garde Française 1735 - 1778

Charles Dominique Joseph Eisen created this sanguine drawing of a "Standing Soldier: Garde Française," during the 18th century, a period marked by rigid social hierarchies and burgeoning revolutionary sentiments. In the drawing we see a soldier, who stands in a landscape, the artist captures the image of the individual set against a broader social backdrop. Consider the Garde Française, the elite regiment responsible for protecting the French monarchy. Eisen, through his artistic lens, is participating in the visual representation of power and authority during the Ancien Régime. The image operates not only as a portrait of a soldier, but also as a symbol of the complex relationship between the military, the monarchy, and the people of France. Eisen's drawing invites us to reflect on the emotional and personal dimensions of the soldier's experience amidst the sweeping societal changes of his time. It’s not just about military might but also about individual stories intertwined with larger historical narratives.