Battle of Cassel c. 17th century

Curator: Sébastien Le Clerc the elder created this compelling image, "Battle of Cassel." Editor: It's incredibly dynamic! The smoke, the horses rearing—chaos distilled into a small frame. Curator: The image employs recognizable tropes of warfare, yet notice the cannons and flags—symbols of power and dominion. The composition is quite deliberate. Editor: Right, and that deliberation almost sanitizes the violence. It’s a glorification, carefully constructed. How does it connect to the battles of its time? Curator: It reflects a desire to portray valor, perhaps obscuring the true cost of conflict through familiar heroic imagery. Editor: So, while seemingly documenting, it actually mythologizes war for a specific audience. Curator: Indeed. These symbols remind us of the narratives crafted around conflict. Editor: Which is why seeing beyond the romanticism becomes so critical.