Soldat gående mod h.; på v. arm et krumt skjold, i h. hånd en lanse; t.h. en sokkel med et kuglerundt, frontalt set hoved; i det fjerne bag hovedet en by ved vandet 1582

Editor: So, this woodcut, created in 1582 by Melchior Lorck, features a soldier…it feels so strangely haunting. The detail is incredible for a print, and the subject seems to carry a weight, or maybe even burdened by that giant shield! What strikes you when you look at it? Curator: That weight is definitely palpable, isn't it? Lorck had a fantastically intuitive hand, and that makes this more than just history; it is a deep reflection. I find myself wondering if the soldier is burdened by duty or perhaps, by something more personal, like the anticipation of conflict. Look closely at the stylized rendering of the subject’s figure: What might seem “off” actually reflects the artistic movement of the era, called Mannerism. The question for me, becomes is it supposed to read literally? Editor: Mannerism, huh? Is that why the soldier’s body looks so elongated? And that sphere-head thing—I’m lost! Is there some kind of message hidden within it all? Curator: Perhaps it is more like the artistic distortion helps to convey an emotional state? I love that sphere; the lack of idealisation has echoes of the stoic philosophers of classical antiquity. What kind of message does it suggest to you? It all blends observation, philosophy, artistry, like a fine spice blend. Editor: Maybe… a message of impending doom? It makes you think, that’s for sure. Curator: Exactly. Lorck isn't just depicting a soldier; he’s offering us a peek into the soldier’s state of mind, as well as a commentary on, perhaps, the burdens of mankind in general. So cool that we can look at this, centuries later and still argue and speculate! Editor: Yeah, I definitely look at this in a different way now. It feels less like a historical document and more like a… poem. Curator: Couldn’t have said it better myself! These historical artworks always have a bit of us in them as well!