Ulaan bij stormachtig weer 1858 - 1883

Edouard Detaille created this monochromatic print, "Ulaan bij stormachtig weer," using etching techniques to capture a scene of military life. The composition centres on a lone uhlan, or lancer, battling against a stormy backdrop, rendered with a limited tonal range that emphasizes the starkness and drama of the scene. Detaille's focus is on linear precision and texture. Observe how the etching lines define the contours of the horse and rider, conveying movement and tension. The use of hatching and cross-hatching creates a sense of depth and atmospheric perspective. The stark contrast between the foreground and background serves to isolate the figure, enhancing the narrative of individual struggle against nature's elements. It evokes a semiotic reading of man versus nature, or even order against chaos. This print thus encapsulates the aesthetic and ideological concerns typical of military art during Detaille's time.