Soldaat op wacht die de pan van zijn musket met twee vingers bedekt tegen vonken, ca. 1645 1645 - 1647

This etching by Petrus Rucholle, a Dutch artist, captures a soldier on guard, holding a musket. Created between 1645-1647, the engraving shows a soldier in detailed attire, complete with a plumed hat, holding his musket with one hand and using the other to shield the pan from sparks. The soldier's pose and focused expression convey his readiness for battle, highlighting the anxieties of the time. This work, though small in size, exemplifies the visual realism and attention to detail characteristic of 17th-century Dutch art, particularly within the genre of military prints.