Carabinier 

Auguste Raffet created this print, Carabinier, using lithography. Notice the Carabinier’s striking helmet, a potent symbol of martial power. Its towering plume hearkens back to the helmets of classical antiquity, echoing the grandeur of Roman centurions, and even further back to the plumed helmets worn by figures in ancient Greek vase paintings. Consider, too, how the horse has been a recurring motif through time, a symbol of nobility, strength, and untamed energy. Horses carry not only warriors but also gods and heroes, their image evolving from the steeds of the ancient world to the warhorses of the medieval era and beyond. Such imagery taps into our collective memory, stirring primal emotions associated with heroism, conflict, and triumph. Though uniforms and weapons change, these archetypal symbols persist, resonating across centuries and cultures, revealing our ongoing fascination with power, courage, and the theater of war.