Les Chasseurs de Vincennes” (1854)

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Irritated by the child's crying, the soldier turned around. Stop whining, I won't warn you anymore.

The useless woman with the two children would be put on transport. Useless and paupers did not belong in the promised land that had predicted a beautiful future.

The woman swallowed, she did not have the strength to admonish the crying child. How often had she told Johan that they had to make arrangements if he or she were no longer there? The state did not like single-parent families, they were a disgrace to society. If a parent died, the rest of the family would be put on transport. When she was young, she had cheered it on and voted for the current ruler. How could she have known that she would one day belong to the group that would no longer be welcome in the Brussels of the future? She had walked happily with the group that was demonstrating against the slackers of society: the poor, the elderly, the sick, and anyone who only cost money had no right to live.

A lady who saw the group walking through the streets of Vincennes tried to speak to her but she did not respond. How long ago had she been dressed like that? Marriage and children had only made the situation worse.

The infantry walked on and the evil soldier turned around again to warn the lady who dared to undermine his authority.

Lady, one more word and you will be transported!

Bastard, said the lady and she beckoned. Before the soldier could say another word he was in chains and transported.

_{Les Chasseurs de Vincennes” (1854) - Alfred Émile-Leopold Stevens}

contest
The official name of the painting is: Les Chasseurs de Vincennes (The Light Infantrymen of Vincennes) presented at the 1855 Exposition Universelle under the title “Ce qu’on appelle le vagabondage”(This is what they call “vagrancy”) source
Style: social-realism
14.10.24

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