Gevechten bij de boerderij van Hougoumont, 1815

Jean Baptiste Ambroise Marcellin Jobard made this print of the ‘Fights at the Hougoumont Farm, 1815’ not long after the famous Battle of Waterloo. The image shows the brutal fighting at the fortified farm, a key episode in the battle. Prints like this played a crucial public role in the 19th century, creating a sense of shared national identity. Coming soon after the events it depicts, this print sought to immortalize a pivotal moment in European history, while visually reinforcing a particular view of the battle, the heroism, and the horror. Prints were not only a form of documentation, but were often used to shape public opinion. Prints offered a unique space for the negotiation of social and political values. Historical resources, such as letters, newspapers, and military records, can give us further insights into the significance of Hougoumont and the print. We can ask how the image’s narrative aligns with other accounts. We might also consider how art institutions, like the Rijksmuseum, play a part in preserving and interpreting these cultural objects.