Halberdier walking left and carrying a halberd over his left shoulder, two tents beyond, from the series 'Twelve soldiers of different ranks' 1530 - 1562

Virgil Solis created this engraving, titled 'Halberdier walking left', as part of a series on soldiers. Solis worked in 16th-century Germany, a place experiencing religious reformation and peasant wars, times of social upheaval and transformation, so it’s no accident that he turned his eye to the military class. In this small print, Solis captures the rank and file of military life. Look closely at the halberdier, his body bulked out by armor and clothing. His gaze is set; he walks with his weapon in tow, perhaps returning from battle or standing guard. Though not a portrait, it is in his face that we sense the psychological weight of his duty. Solis’s prints served as accessible and affordable art for a growing public. They offer us insight into the visual culture of the period, and the ways in which identity, class, and military service were intertwined. Though centuries separate us, his work still resonates, prompting reflection on the human condition within systems of power.