Bas-reliëf met vier soldaten en een paard 1636 - 1647

This bas-relief depicting four soldiers and a horse was made by Johann Friedrich Greuter, sometime between 1590 and 1662. It's an engraving, meaning the artist would have used a tool called a burin to carve lines into a metal plate, likely copper. The incised lines hold ink, which is then transferred to paper under high pressure. Look closely, and you'll notice the incredible level of detail Greuter achieved using this method. Consider the way the lines define form, create shading, and describe the textures of clothing, flesh, and hair. Engraving was a skilled, labor-intensive practice, requiring years of training. In its time, it was a key method for disseminating images, functioning almost like a printing press for visual culture. This particular print offers a glimpse into military life and classical aesthetics, filtered through the precise hand of the engraver. It reminds us that even seemingly simple images carry a wealth of technical and cultural information.