Drie kaartende soldaten naast een paard / Liggend paard / Veldslag, in het midden een galoperende ruiter 1619 - 1649

These three images, made by Jan Martszen de Jonge in the 17th century, offer glimpses into military life and its participants. De Jonge, who lived during the Dutch Golden Age, situates us within a society experiencing both prosperity and conflict. These images are small, yet they reveal the day-to-day existence of soldiers: a battle scene, a resting horse, and soldiers at play. What can we learn from the choice to include not only active conflict, but also down time? Perhaps it is a means of humanizing soldiers in a time of constant war. De Jonge's choice of subject offers an intimate view, contrasting with more glorified depictions of battle. The small dimensions emphasize the everyday experience, rather than the heroic. The images suggest that the essence of war resides not only in grand conflicts, but also in the quiet, shared moments that define the lives of those who serve.