Infanterie 1848 - 1881

Here we see an image of the 'Infanterie' from Lutkie & Cranenburg, whose creation date is currently unknown, made with pen and watercolour. The composition is highly structured, presenting rows of uniformed figures in a grid-like arrangement. Each figure is rendered with precise lines and flat planes of colour, emphasizing the uniformity of the infantry. The limited palette of greens, reds, and yellows contributes to the image’s overall sense of order and functionality. This approach reflects a broader artistic interest in systematization and categorization. The absence of individual expression or depth challenges traditional notions of portraiture, reducing the soldiers to mere representatives of a larger, impersonal structure. The meticulous rendering of details is subordinated to the overall pattern, raising questions about the relationship between the individual and the collective. Ultimately, the formal qualities of 'Infanterie' speak to an interest in the underlying structures of representation and the reduction of human subjects to abstract forms.