Twee soldaten te paard 1821 - 1827

Johannes Mock created this print, "Two Soldiers on Horseback," using etching techniques. Mock, who lived through significant political upheaval in the Netherlands, including the Napoleonic era and the establishment of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, presents us with a rather traditional representation of military figures. The soldiers, adorned in their uniforms, are the focal point, but I’m drawn to the horses. Notice the tension and energy, the way their muscles are defined. It suggests not just the power of the military, but also hints at the labor and force required to maintain such power. I wonder about the absence of context – where are they riding to, or from? Are they symbols of national pride, or reminders of occupation? Ultimately, this etching leaves us to contemplate the intertwined relationship between the individual, the state, and the narratives we construct around them. What stories do we tell ourselves about those who serve, and what do we leave unsaid?