Artwork
Soldier with Upraised Arm
Soldier with Upraised Arm is a drawing by the Impressionist artist Jean Louis Ernest Meissonier. It dates from 1870 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Ernest Meissonier’s drawing titled Soldier with Upraised Arm dates from around 1870. Executed in pen and ink, the work measures roughly 30 × 22 cm and is part of the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. It depicts a solitary figure in a French military uniform, captured in a moment of gesture that emphasizes the attire’s details.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a lone soldier whose raised arm suggests a command or salute, inviting viewers to consider the role of individual presence within 19th‑century military life. By isolating the figure, Meissonier foregrounds the material culture of the French army, allowing the uniform itself to become a focal point of historical observation.
Technique & Style
Meissonier employs a precise line economy combined with subtle chiaroscuro, using contrasts of light and shadow to model the folds of the coat and the metallic sheen of the equipment. The drawing’s tight rendering reflects the artist’s reputation for meticulous detail, while the limited palette maintains a restrained, documentary tone.
History & Provenance
Created circa 1870, the drawing entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s holdings in the early 20th century through a donation from the museum’s founding benefactors. Its acquisition reflects the institution’s early commitment to representing French academic art and the military genre within its European drawings collection.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jean-Louis-Ernest Meissonier was a French academic painter and sculptor. He became famous for his depictions of Napoleon and his military sieges and manoeuvres in paintings acclaimed both for the artist's mastery of…
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