De exercitie met de targe en rapier: hoe de soldaat het vizier van zijn helm moet sluiten met de targe en de getrokken rapier in de hand (nr. 7), 1618 1616 - 1618

Adam van Breen created this etching from 1618, showing a soldier closing his helmet while holding a shield and rapier. It was a period of intense military and political upheaval in Europe, especially with the Thirty Years' War looming. This image is part of a series meant to instruct soldiers on the use of new weaponry. Yet, it also operates as a study of masculinity, and the physical expectations of men in combat. The image shows not just a soldier but a man caught in a moment of preparation, his humanity made evident by the active gesture of his hand raising to close the helmet. The etching's stark lines and attention to detail evoke a sense of the intense discipline required of soldiers during this era, while also capturing the vulnerability inherent in preparing for battle. It's a reminder of how personal identity is shaped and tested by the demands of society and history.