Troupes des quatre grandes Puissances de l'Europe / troepen der vier groote mogendheden van Europa 1800 - 1833

Philippus Jacobus Brepols created this print titled, *Troops of the Four Great Powers of Europe*, using etching, sometime between 1778 and 1845. Immediately, the formal, grid-like composition stands out, dividing the print into twelve distinct cells, each presenting a figure from a major European power. The color palette is restrained: blues, reds, and yellows are used in a rudimentary way that emphasizes the flatness of the image. The organization of the print draws our attention to the structural relationships between the different national identities presented. Brepols employs a semiotic system where uniforms, flags, and poses function as signs, encoding a sense of national pride and military prowess. Each row depicts a different rank, from general to cannoneer, suggesting a hierarchy not only within each army but perhaps also between them, with the arrangement subtly implying power dynamics. The evenness of the print, and its grid layout, implies a sense of order but also subtly destabilizes any clear hierarchy, leaving viewers to interpret the intended power relations. It uses form and structure to suggest complex cultural and political relations in Europe during a time of great change.