Soldaten zu Pferde und zu Fuß bei einem Schanzkorbe mit Frauen und Kindern 

Charles Parrocel created this drawing with pen and brush in gray ink during the first half of the 18th century. In it, soldiers on horseback and on foot are seen near a fortification, among women and children. The image presents an idealised view of military life, a common theme in French art of this period. The soldiers appear relaxed, almost nonchalant, while the presence of women and children softens the harsh reality of war. But how did artistic institutions shape this kind of imagery? France was building museums and academies, and organizing displays of art for an increasingly broad public. Further research into the artist's biography, the military history of the time, and the reception of similar works could shed more light on the social context of this drawing. In any case, its meaning is contingent on the social and institutional context in which it was created.