Romeins veldheer met paard en wagen 1722 - 1784

Simon Fokke created this print, titled *Roman Commander with Horse and Carriage,* sometime between 1724 and 1784, using etching. Fokke lived and worked during the Enlightenment, a period defined by reason and individualism. The print depicts a Roman commander in a horse-drawn chariot, evoking classical ideals of leadership and military strength. This imagery reflected the era's fascination with the grandeur of past empires, yet it simultaneously upheld existing power structures. However, the scene also reveals underlying social dynamics. While the commander is glorified, the horses, symbols of labor and subjugation, are reduced to instruments of his will. The print can be seen as a commentary on the hierarchies inherent in both ancient Rome and 18th-century society. Fokke's detailed etching captures not only the visual spectacle but also the complex interplay of power, labor, and representation.