Lutzen, May 2, 1813 1831

Auguste Raffet etched this print, "Lutzen, May 2, 1813," capturing a moment of intense conflict during the Napoleonic Wars. The most striking symbol here is, of course, the battlefield itself – a chaotic arena where glory and death intertwine. Consider, for instance, the raised arms of the fallen. This gesture echoes across millennia, from ancient depictions of sacrifice to Renaissance portrayals of martyrdom. Here, they evoke the futility and horror of war. The smoke, obscuring the scene, not only conveys the immediate sensory experience of battle but also serves as a metaphor for the obscuring of truth, the loss of clarity amid conflict. It reminds me of the veils used in classical art to conceal or reveal divine presence. What is being revealed or concealed here? Is it the true cost of war, hidden behind the smokescreen of patriotic fervor? The eternal return of conflict, the symbolic gestures of surrender and defiance, engage us on a subconscious level, reminding us of humanity’s perpetual dance with aggression.