Slaget ved Leuze (Combat de Leuzel) 1703 - 1717

Johanna Sibylla Küsel's "Slaget ved Leuze," is a dynamic engraving, notable for its detailed rendering of a chaotic battle scene. The artwork uses a tight composition to convey the intensity and close quarters of the conflict. The engraving’s structure employs a clear foreground, middle ground, and background to create depth, with the most dramatic action staged front and centre. Küsel uses line work to differentiate textures and forms, from the billowing smoke of cannons to the musculature of horses and soldiers. The piece is framed with decorative elements, including allegorical figures and military symbols, which serve to elevate the scene and imbue it with heroic qualities. This combination of realistic depiction and symbolic framing aligns with the period's approach to history painting, aiming to inform and inspire through the visual narrative. Consider how Küsel uses the contrast between the ordered frame and the disordered battle to provoke thought. The contrast is a semiotic device, questioning the glorification of war.