Overwinning in de slag bij Boutersem, 1831 1855 - 1860

Adolf Carel Nunnink created this print of the "Victory in the Battle of Boutersem, 1831" using etching and burin. The central motif of the fallen soldier, a recurrent symbol in the theater of war, carries a potent emotional charge. Consider the "Ecce Homo" in religious art—the presentation of Christ bound and wounded. This image elicits empathy and contemplation on human suffering. Similarly, the fallen soldiers in Nunnink's print serve as a stark memento mori, reminding us of the transience of life. This iconography is not static; it evolves. In later works, such as those by Dix, the fallen soldier becomes a visceral condemnation of war's brutality, stripped of any heroic veneer. The collective memory of conflict is thus embedded in these evolving symbols, each iteration reflecting the changing cultural attitudes towards war and sacrifice. These images engage viewers on a subconscious level.