Ruitergevecht 1825 - 1883

Theodoor Schaepkens created this etching of a cavalry fight sometime in the 19th century. Schaepkens lived in a time of massive social upheaval in Europe, when long-standing political systems and social hierarchies were being questioned. In this tiny, yet dynamic, image, Schaepkens summons the imagined, romanticized past. Here, a knight raises his sword in triumph. What does it mean to look back to this time with such fondness? Consider the legacy of power and privilege in the era of knights and battles, and who had access to these social strata. The image romanticizes war and bravery, yet this representation often obscures the true, brutal cost of conflict on ordinary people. This work asks us to consider how history, identity, and power dynamics intertwine. While the scene appears romantic, it also serves as a reminder of whose stories are told and whose are forgotten.