Jean-Jean in gesprek met oudere soldaten 1827 - 1829

Curator: Ah, there’s a palpable melancholy hanging in the air around this work, isn’t there? A real sense of camaraderie amongst these world-weary soldiers. Editor: Absolutely. What we’re looking at is “Jean-Jean in gesprek met oudere soldaten,” or “Jean-Jean in conversation with older soldiers,” created between 1827 and 1829 by Auguste Raffet. It’s currently held at the Rijksmuseum and made using pen, graphite, and colored pencil. It almost feels like peering into a smoky tavern where veterans gather, seeking solace in stories. Curator: Yes, that’s it exactly. The light seems to emanate from within them, from memories both beautiful and terrible, I imagine. Raffet captured that in the smudging and crosshatching beautifully, especially in their faces, mapping the landscapes of their experiences. But it's a rather political romanticism isn’t it? Editor: It is. We must remember the cultural context. France was still dealing with the long shadow cast by Napoleon, both politically and emotionally. There was widespread fascination and trauma surrounding the veteran experience. What we see is a very studied and intentionally arranged piece. Notice how Jean-Jean stands apart. Curator: You’re right. He almost seems on the precipice of initiation. Being taken into the bosom of war by these figures… almost against his will. But the composition, with the huddle of older soldiers surrounding a younger counterpart—creates a story all on its own. Do you get a feeling that perhaps we're missing something with this painting? Editor: I think the choice to depict a seemingly ordinary moment gives the work power. No glorious battle scene here, only tired men, some sort of gruel perhaps… or weak soup in the middle. A certain fatigue is certainly noticeable with the slumped and weathered appearance. We almost feel like onlookers… watching Jean-Jean embark upon this new experience of camaraderie in war. Curator: Maybe war does offer camaraderie of the highest order - and also an agony that none can truly understand other than veterans. This picture allows you into an uncomfortable zone. One where there is deep pain, and also one of support - no matter how small the offering is. Editor: Agreed, that duality gives Raffet’s work enduring resonance, moving beyond the merely historical to something profoundly, even uncomfortably human. Curator: Something you wouldn’t mind remembering after leaving the room. Editor: Precisely. Thanks for sharing this glimpse.