A Standard-Bearer Flanked by a Lansquenet at each side (copy) 1500 - 1540

Hans Schäufelein’s woodcut, made in Germany around 1515, depicts a standard-bearer flanked by two lansquenets. The image presents us with the figure of the landsknecht, a mercenary soldier who came to be associated with the Holy Roman Empire at the turn of the 16th century. The landsknechts were known for their flamboyant clothing and were a strong force on the battlefields of Europe. Schäufelein himself was employed by wealthy patrons and imperial courts, including that of Maximilian I. Here, the artist renders the central figure with great care, emphasizing the importance of military display for the creation of political power. The print thus reflects a society where military service and finery could be a means of social advancement. By examining the artist's life, the dress codes of the time, and the economy that supported the Landsknechts, we can better understand the place of this work within its own culture. Art history gives us the tools to understand the meaning of the image as something embedded within specific social and institutional contexts.