Studies of Soldiers and Cart Horses 1830 - 1875

Isidore Pils made this drawing titled ‘Studies of Soldiers and Cart Horses’ in nineteenth-century France. Here we see several sketches of figures, many of them soldiers, others labouring or working the land. Pils was a French academic painter, who won the Prix de Rome in 1838 and was later professor at the École des Beaux-Arts. His artistic career occurred during a time of significant social and political upheaval in France, including the Revolutions of 1830 and 1848, the Crimean War, and the Franco-Prussian War. Much of his artistic output reflected these events. ‘Studies of Soldiers and Cart Horses’ offers insight into the artist's process and the way in which he was engaging with contemporary social and political issues. We can see him exploring themes related to military life, labour, and the relationship between humans and animals. By examining letters and other historical records, we can better understand the artist's intentions and the social context in which this drawing was made.