Scène uit Orlando Furioso van Ludovico Ariosto 1816 - 1882

Edouard Schuler created this print titled 'Scène uit Orlando Furioso van Ludovico Ariosto' during the 19th century, a period marked by significant social and political upheaval across Europe. In this scene we see a figure, likely a knight, surrounded by a chaotic scene of conflict. The source of the image in Ludovico Ariosto's 'Orlando Furioso' situates the image within the classic heroic mode. Yet, the manner in which the scene is depicted, the almost barbaric quality given to the figures in conflict, complicates any straightforward reading of heroism. Instead, this image presents us with the messiness and violence that underpins the heroic narrative. Schuler’s print invites us to consider how stories of valor and chivalry often obscure the brutal realities of power and conflict, and also how these depictions affect our understanding of identity, leadership, and the narratives we construct around historical events. It leaves us to question what is glorified and what is omitted in the tales that shape our perceptions of the world.