Poolse lansier in volle galop op het slagveld 1820

This print by Hippolyte Bellangé captures a Polish lancer in full gallop, spear in hand, amidst the chaos of battle. The lance, a primary symbol here, transcends its immediate military function. Consider the lances in Paolo Uccello's "The Battle of San Romano." Though centuries apart, both works feature lances not merely as weapons but as dynamic vectors. They draw the eye, orchestrate the composition, and, in their pointed direction, symbolize an aggressive assertion of will. The lance, a seemingly simple form, speaks volumes about power, direction, and the human impulse to project force upon the world. It’s a symbol that resurfaces across epochs, each time imbued with the psychological weight of ambition and the will to dominate. Here, it reminds us of the cyclical nature of conflict and the human psyche's enduring fascination with displays of power.