Militairen te paard 1827 - 1894

M. Hemeleers-van Houter created this print, 'Militairen te paard' - or 'Military Men on Horseback' - sometime before her death in 1880. Consider the role of women artists in the 19th century, often confined to domestic subjects or portraiture, Hemeleers-van Houter’s choice to depict military figures is striking. The men on horseback are neatly arranged, almost like paper dolls, a common pastime for young women at the time. Are these figures symbols of power, or mere playthings on display? This print invites us to think about the intersections of gender and power. Military service has often been a male-dominated sphere. Hemeleers-van Houter’s print offers a moment to reflect on the ways women artists have engaged with, and sometimes subverted, traditional representations of masculinity and authority. Through her gaze, we can question whose stories are told, and who gets to tell them.