Soldier Seated on a Rock 1764

"Soldier Seated on a Rock" is an etching by Swiss artist Matthias Pfenninger, created in 1764. The artwork depicts a soldier seated on a rock, his right arm resting on a pickaxe. The inscription on the stone beneath him, "8. Etudes des Soldats après la Bataille de Calsenberg 1764", suggests the soldier is resting after a battle, possibly the Battle of Calsenberg. This print is part of a series of eight depicting soldiers, and its realistic depiction of the soldier's fatigue and weary pose provides a poignant commentary on the harsh realities of war. The artwork, currently housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, is a testament to Pfenninger's talent for capturing the human experience within the context of historical events.