Royal Guard, Mounted Hussard and Horse, No. 6 c. 1818

Curator: At The Art Institute of Chicago, we're standing before "Royal Guard, Mounted Hussard and Horse, No. 6," a lithograph by Carle Vernet, dating circa 1818. Editor: The drama is palpable, wouldn't you agree? The confident, almost haughty pose of the Hussard atop the spirited steed… quite dashing. The light and shadow contribute wonderfully. Curator: Vernet masterfully uses line and form. Look at how the bold strokes define the horse's musculature versus the finer lines rendering the Hussard's ornate uniform. It is almost as if he wants us to perceive textures. Editor: Indeed. These pieces, these Hussard images, speak to France's fascination with military power post-Napoleonic era, a visual assertion of regal strength and romanticized nobility despite war's harsh realities. Note also that lithography, still relatively new, makes reproducing and disseminating such imagery much easier. Curator: Lithography absolutely facilitates distribution. I’m struck by how Vernet orchestrates the composition. The diagonal thrust of the horse’s posture creates dynamism while leading our eye toward the hussar, culminating in that plume atop his hat. Editor: A potent symbol. A visible flourish to be sure. Hussars were, after all, the celebrities of the military. The stylish swagger must be carefully calibrated for political appeal. The figure presents the kind of authority which would solidify power after the Bourbon restoration. Curator: The very paper itself holds semiotic significance, its color and texture contributing to the image's perceived age, invoking nostalgia and perhaps an air of historical gravitas. Editor: This all works together in creating not merely an image but a persuasive projection of a France intent on re-establishing prestige on the world stage. I leave with an interesting perception about the role of printmaking in historical re-narrativization. Curator: For me, the way Vernet employed these emergent technologies and traditional composition skills allows the piece to speak about formal skill but also about its particular moment in French history.