Brigadegeneraal 1832 - 1833

Victor Adam’s lithograph, “Brigadegeneraal,” captures a French military officer on horseback, a symbol laden with historical and cultural weight. The horse here is not merely a means of transport; it is an age-old symbol of power, virility, and control. This motif gallops through art history, appearing in ancient Roman equestrian statues and Renaissance portraits of triumphant rulers. Consider, for example, the equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius in Rome, where the emperor's commanding presence on horseback conveyed absolute authority and divine approval. Yet, over time, the meaning of this symbol has shifted. In the romantic era, the rider became a symbol of the individual self. The controlled animal suggests the triumph of reason. This image engages our collective memory on a deep level, stirring subconscious associations with power, leadership, and perhaps, the inherent tension between control and wildness.