Review of Troops n.d.

Georg Philipp Rugendas created this dynamic red chalk drawing called ‘Review of Troops’ sometime between the late 17th and early 18th centuries. Rugendas, who was German, specialized in battle scenes that glorified military power. The image is fascinating, because it reflects the social obsession with military might and the realities of war during a time of frequent conflict in Europe. Notice how the artist uses the red chalk to create a sense of movement and energy, with the horses rearing and the soldiers in dynamic poses. The composition, with the troops arranged in a seemingly endless line, emphasizes the scale and power of the military force. To understand this work more fully, we might explore the institutional history of military academies, the social status of soldiers, or the impact of war on civilian populations. The artwork becomes a point of departure for understanding the complex relationship between art, power, and society. And we as art historians need to think about art as something inseparable from its social and institutional context.