Maarschalk De Saint-Arnaud tijdens de Slag aan de Alma 1854

Hippolyte Bellangé created this print, Maarschalk De Saint-Arnaud tijdens de Slag aan de Alma, using etching techniques. Born in France during a period of intense political and social change, Bellangé witnessed the rise and fall of empires and revolutions. His artistic career unfolded against a backdrop of shifting power dynamics, colonial expansion, and burgeoning nationalism, all of which greatly influenced his subject matter. As a painter attached to the French army, Bellangé had a front-row seat to the spectacle of war, which allowed him to capture the glory and the tragedy. Yet, in this piece, the artist shifts the traditional narrative. While the mounted figures evoke classical equestrian portraits of powerful leaders, here, death and suffering are brought to the fore. The image asks us to reflect on whose stories are told and whose are erased in the grand narratives of history and war. It's a reminder of the human cost of conflict and the often-unacknowledged sacrifices made in the name of political ambition.