Uniform van Schotse soldaten 1795 - 1796

Editor: This is a rather fascinating page from a sketchbook. It’s entitled "Uniform van Schotse soldaten," or "Uniform of Scottish Soldiers." Painted with watercolors on paper, it’s attributed to S.G. Casten, around 1795 or 1796. I’m struck by the detail in the uniforms, especially those vibrant tartans. What's your take on this intimate portrayal of soldiers from so long ago? Curator: Intimate is a great word. I feel like I’ve stumbled upon a private moment in history. Can't you just imagine the artist carefully documenting these soldiers? There’s such a delicate quality to the watercolor, it almost softens the martial subject matter. Are they romanticized, perhaps? I can almost smell the heather. Editor: Romanticized…yes, I see what you mean. Compared to other military paintings, this feels much less about the glory of battle and more about the… humanity, even the fashion, of the soldiers themselves. What do you make of the unfinished figure sketched on the opposing page? Curator: Ah, that's the beauty of a sketchbook, isn’t it? We're given access to the artist's process, to fleeting ideas. Perhaps Casten intended a larger scene, but never quite got there. Or, perhaps he just wanted to start the scene when something else caught his eye. It’s an invitation to imagine the untold stories behind these figures, to ponder the lives contained within those colorful uniforms. Editor: That unfinished figure certainly does make this feel more personal and less like a formal study. Thanks for pointing that out. I'm finding myself oddly touched by the vulnerability of this artwork. Curator: Precisely! And isn't that what art should do, even unexpectedly? Offer a new lens on our shared history, stirring emotions we didn’t know we had. I love the gentle humanity, the private perspective and a moment of someone trying to make something meaningful of the people of that time.