The Miseries of War by Jacques Callot

       The Miseries of War also known as La Vie des Soldats, by Jacques Callot, was painted from 1632-1633 (Encyclopedia Britannica). The painting occurred during a succession of wars fought by various nations throughout Europe known as The Thirty Years’ War (History of the World). Reasons for the war include religious, territorial, and dynastical values; which in the end resulted only in disparaging battles throughout Europe and transformed the map of Europe forever (Encyclopedia Britannica). These battlefields took place throughout Europe, where the people suffered most as a result of war. 

      The drawing is from a series of prints by Callot who portrayed the devastation of war. This drawing above is called Plundering and Burning a Village, which illustrates the crimes committed by soldiers of opposing parties (History of the World). In the drawing there are several techniques Callot used; for example,  first he illustrates the war in broad daylight so the painting is not dark but clearly seen (History of Art). Second, he uses a wide-angle perspective to show the entire seen to the viewer and third, each person, object, or animal is meticulously drawn in order for the viewer to take in all the little and big details. Lastly, Callot illustrates the scene as a whole not focusing on displaying  the emotion of the faces, but rather focusing on the tone as a whole. In order for the viewer to see the destruction the Spanish army had caused. Jaques Callot's technique is different from other artists because he emphasizes on the misfortunes war brings and the "big picture" over displaying the emotions of people, whose town is being destroyed.

     Through this drawing The Impact of War is represented because war caused the villages of the French to be destroyed and as a consequence affected their society and people severely. The point of view towards war is blatantly depicted through illustrating war as a misfortune over the success it brings to a country. Here the  destruction of war is portrayed, but is stylistically different from future artists like Goya and Dali who focused on bloody events and death. The too were influenced by Jacques Callot's series of war  drawings that were of Callot's homeland.

"History of the World". (2011, April 24.) Miseries of War. <http://all-history.org/220.html>.

"Encyclopedia Britannica".(2011, May 10.) Etching Encyclopedia Britannica Online. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/193841/etching>.

"History of Art". (2011, April 23) Baroque and Rococo. <http://www.all-art.org/history252-13.html>.

"The miseries of War" (image) http://media.agnsw.org/collection_images/Alpha/DO10.1963.7%23%23S.jpg