Battle of Waterloo Book Reimagined Portraits by Sam Faulkner

Unseen Waterloo: The Conflict Revisited is a compelling book by Sam Faulkner, published to accompany his photography exhibition of the same name at Somerset House, held to mark the bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo in 2015.

Beginning in 2009, award-winning photographer Sam Faulkner attended the annual Waterloo re-enactment in Belgium, where he photographed participants in historically accurate uniforms, painstakingly recreated for the event. From his pop-up studio on the battlefield, Faulkner captured striking, painterly portraits that evoke the forgotten faces of the conflict. His work reimagines moments of triumph, hope, and loss, offering a perspective that feels both timeless and intimate.

“Waterloo is often remembered as a battle between great men, and of course, we’ve all seen the grand paintings of Napoleon and Wellington. But we don’t have personal images of the men who actually fought and died that day,” Faulkner notes. His portraits offer a thoughtful response to this absence, placing the ordinary soldier at the heart of the narrative.

The book, published on the 200th anniversary of the battle, accompanied a 12-week exhibition at Somerset House, curated and designed by Patrick Kinmonth. Its cover design—a beautifully crafted foil-blocked map of the Waterloo battlefield on blue cloth—reflects the meticulous attention to detail that runs through the project.

Unseen Waterloo is both a poignant tribute to those who fought and a quiet meditation on how we remember and retell history. Through Faulkner’s lens, the soldiers of Waterloo are brought into sharp focus, their stories resonating across the centuries.

The Artist’s Edition of the Unseen Waterloo book is a rare collector’s item. Presented in a custom-made slipcase with silver gilt-edged pages, this edition is limited to just 200 copies, with only a few still available. Each copy is individually numbered and signed by the artist, Sam Faulkner.

Unseen Waterloo: The Conflict Revisited accompanies the photography exhibition of the same name at Somerset House, marking the bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo.

Starting in 2009, multi-award-winning photographer Sam Faulkner travelled to the annual re-enactment in Belgium to capture portraits of ‘soldiers’ dressed in meticulously recreated, historically accurate uniforms. These costumes were crafted with extraordinary attention to detail for the event.

From his pop-up studio on the battlefield, Faulkner created dramatic, painterly portraits that evoke the forgotten faces of Waterloo, reimagining moments of glory, hope, and defeat.

“Waterloo is often cast as a battle between Great Men, and we’ve all seen grand paintings of Napoleon and Wellington from the conflict. However, we don’t have personal images of the men who actually fought and died that day,” said Sam Faulkner.

Published on the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo, the book accompanied the 12-week exhibition at Somerset House, designed and curated by Patrick Kinmonth.

The book’s striking cover features a foil-blocked map of the Waterloo battlefield on blue cloth, while the slipcase showcases the same design with an elegant blind debossed finish.

Unseen Waterloo: The Conflict Revisited-Thin Red Line Editionis a limited-edition book by Sam Faulkner, created to accompany his acclaimed photography exhibition at Somerset House, which marked the bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo. This collector’s edition serves as both a tactile and visual homage to the soldiers whose stories and sacrifices have faded into history. Bound in the same red cloth used for British uniforms at Waterloo, each book is housed in a solander case crafted from the same material.

The Thin Red Line Edition, limited to just 25 copies, is a testament to exceptional craftsmanship. Each book is hand-bound by Ludlow Bookbinders in Shropshire, a workshop celebrated for upholding the finest traditions of English bookbinding. Known for their bespoke work, Ludlow creates limited editions, slipcases, and solander boxes designed to endure for generations, combining utility and beauty with meticulous care.

The book’s cover and case are made from Hainsworth’s historic red cloth, famously worn by British Redcoats at Waterloo. The design features a finely embroidered battlefield map in silver thread, stitched by Hawthorn & Heaney, a London-based embroidery studio situated near Regent Street. Specialising in costume, ceremonial pieces, and high-fashion embellishments, their work combines precision with artistry, ensuring each detail is both meaningful and exquisite.

Every copy of the book is numbered and signed by the artist.

The portraits within Unseen Waterloo were created by Faulkner between 2009 and 2015, as he photographed re-enactors at the annual Waterloo gatherings in Belgium. Set against a pop-up studio on the battlefield, these painterly portraits evoke the forgotten faces of the conflict. Each image captures the humanity of the moment, reimagining camaraderie, resilience, and loss, as experienced by those who fought.

“Waterloo is often remembered as a clash of Great Men, yet we have no personal images of those who endured the horror of battle,” Faulkner reflects. His portraits offer an imagined tribute to the individuals behind the grand narratives, creating a sense of connection with lives otherwise lost to history.

Published alongside a 12-week exhibition at Somerset House, curated and designed by Patrick Kinmonth, Unseen Waterloo honours the overlooked men of the battle. Through Faulkner’s understated yet evocative imagery, the project reclaims a sense of humanity for those who bore the brunt of history’s weight. The book and its portraits serve as a quietly powerful meditation on sacrifice, loss, and the enduring cost of war.