The Pursuit 1832

Auguste Raffet made this print called The Pursuit at an unknown date using etching and engraving. It depicts a scene of soldiers engaged in a fierce battle. The image creates meaning through visual codes and historical associations. Made in France, the print captures the intensity and chaos of warfare, with soldiers in disarray, some falling, while others press forward. The print seems to critique or question the glorification of war, focusing instead on the human cost and suffering. The uniforms and weaponry suggest a specific time period, possibly the Napoleonic era or another conflict involving French forces. To understand it better, we can research the military history of 19th-century France. Through such inquiry, we see how art is contingent on its social and institutional context.