Soldats de la ligne
1870s
Medium
Albumen silver print from glass negative with applied color
Dimensions
23.7 x 19.2 cm (9 5/16 x 7 9/16 in.)
Classification
Photographs
Department
Photographs
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gilman Collection, Museum Purchase, 2005
Accession Number
2005.100.505.1 (42a)
Tags
Art Historical Context
**Soldats de la ligne** captures a poignant moment from the 1870s, likely during or shortly after the Franco-Prussian War (1870–71), when France's line infantry—stoic foot soldiers—embodied national resilience amid defeat and upheaval. This intimate portrait of uniformed men, rendered in exquisite detail, humanizes the era's military life, evoking the discipline and camaraderie of troops who defended the front lines. As an anonymous work, it reflects the growing role of photography in documenting everyday heroism, bridging personal stories with broader historical narratives. Crafted as an alb...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...