A dramatic 1835 lithograph by Denis-Auguste-Marie Raffet depicting the chaotic atmosphere and dense troop movements of the Battle of Waterloo.

Denis-Auguste-Marie Raffet was a French illustrator and lithographer known for his depictions of Napoleonic military life. This work, dated 1835, captures the chaotic atmosphere of the Battle of Waterloo. Raffet utilised the medium of lithography to create a dense, atmospheric scene that conveys the scale of the conflict through light and shadow rather than precise individual detail.

The composition focuses on the massed ranks of soldiers, with the smoke of artillery fire obscuring the horizon and creating a sense of claustrophobia. The foreground is filled with the figures of cavalry and infantry, their forms emerging from the dark, textured ground. Raffet avoids a singular heroic focus, choosing instead to represent the collective experience of the troops during the final stages of the battle. The use of tonal variation in the lithographic stone allows for a dramatic contrast between the bright, hazy explosions and the dark, sombre masses of the army.

Raffet was a student of Nicolas-Toussaint Charlet and became a chronicler of the French army. His work often reflects the nostalgia for the Napoleonic era that permeated French culture during the July Monarchy. By focusing on the grim reality of the battlefield, he provides a perspective that differs from the more celebratory military art of the period. The print demonstrates his technical skill in handling the lithographic crayon to achieve soft, painterly effects while maintaining the structural integrity of the scene. This piece is a representative example of his contribution to nineteenth-century military iconography, documenting the visual history of the Napoleonic Wars through a medium that allowed for wide distribution and public engagement.