Soldiers Fighting with Swords on Horseback, Church in the Distance c. 19th century

Curator: This print, housed here at the Harvard Art Museums, is by August Beck and titled "Soldiers Fighting with Swords on Horseback, Church in the Distance." Editor: It's chaos, isn’t it? That frantic energy, you can almost hear the clash of steel and the horses' desperate cries. Curator: Beck really captures the fervor of conflict, doesn't he? Note how the church spire in the background offers a stark contrast to the violence in the foreground. Editor: It's like he's asking us to consider what's being fought for or perhaps lost in all the commotion. I feel a somberness despite the action. Curator: The lack of dating makes it tricky to place, but Beck's dates suggest mid-19th century, a time of much upheaval across Europe. Perhaps this is his response, his meditation on conflict. Editor: Right, and that cross…it’s either a promise of salvation or a stark reminder of sacrifice. Food for thought.