Burger plaagt twee dronken soldaten in een kroeg 1822

Nicolas Toussaint Charlet created this print, “Burger plaagt twee dronken soldaten in een kroeg”, using etching techniques. The image depicts a scene set in a tavern and invites reflection on social class, power dynamics, and the impact of military presence on civilian life in 19th-century France. Charlet uses the setting and characters to comment on the social structures of his time. The 'burger,' or common man, confronting the drunken soldiers suggests a critique of military excess and its disruption of everyday life. The tavern, a space of leisure and social interaction, becomes a stage for this conflict. The artist plays with visual codes to create meaning, such as the contrast between the solid, grounded figure of the 'burger' and the unsteady, clinging soldiers. Historical archives, social histories of 19th-century France, and studies of military culture can provide further context for understanding the relationships represented here. The meaning of this artwork is contingent upon understanding the social and institutional contexts in which it was created and received.