Soldaat uit het korps der janitsaren met geweer en kruitlont 1555 - 1568

Léon Davent, active in the mid-16th century, created this etching on paper of a soldier from the Janissary corps. The printmaking process is crucial here; Davent would have coated a metal plate with wax, drawn the image with a fine needle, and then submerged the plate in acid. The acid would bite into the exposed lines, creating grooves that would hold ink. This is a demanding method, requiring both physical strength and meticulous attention to detail. The resulting image, with its precise lines and subtle gradations of tone, speaks to the skill involved. But more than that, it reflects a broader shift towards the industrialization of image production. Etchings like these could be reproduced in multiples, making them a powerful tool for disseminating information and shaping public opinion. In its own way, this print is a product of its time, reflecting the rise of new technologies and the changing social landscape of early modern Europe.