Combat of Cavalry 1635 - 1700

Jacques Courtois created this drawing, Combat of Cavalry, using pen and brown ink with brown wash on laid paper. The dynamic scene is immediately striking: the whirlwind of bodies, the frenetic energy of battle, and the dramatic tonal range achieved with the brown wash. Courtois masterfully uses line and shadow to convey movement and chaos. Notice how the composition is structured to draw the eye into the melee. In this drawing, Courtois captures not just the physical aspects of combat but also its psychological intensity. The expressive use of the medium—the fluid ink washes, the agitated lines—mirrors the emotional turmoil of battle. The loose, gestural strokes suggest a world where order has broken down, a theme prevalent in post-structuralist thought. The lack of precise detail challenges fixed interpretations, inviting viewers to confront the ambiguity inherent in conflict. The drawing, with its focus on the raw, unfiltered experience of war, serves as a reminder that art can unsettle and provoke, prompting us to question our understanding of power, violence, and representation.