Spotprent op de aanstelling van onervaren officieren 1750

This print, titled "The Military Nurse, or Modern Officer," was created by R. Attwold. It presents a scene dominated by stark contrasts in scale and form, immediately drawing our attention to the hierarchical structure of the military and society. Notice the large, almost looming figure of the 'nurse' towering over the diminutive officer, whose youth and inexperience are accentuated by his small stature and reliance on a leash. Attwold uses this difference in size to comment on the themes of power and social status. The composition’s arrangement, with the larger figure leading the smaller one, reinforces this dynamic of control and dependency. The artist employs line and form to convey the idea of corruption and incompetence within the military ranks. The satirical edge of this work lies in its visual deconstruction of authority, using the formal elements to critique and subvert conventional representations of military prowess.