Three Turkish Soldiers (Cavalrymen) c. 1520

This print, "Three Turkish Soldiers (Cavalrymen)" by Daniel Hopfer, is a striking example of the artist’s masterful use of etching. Created around 1520, the work depicts three Turkish soldiers on horseback, their detailed attire and weaponry offering insight into 16th-century military dress and customs. The intricate depiction of the soldiers, their horses, and the landscape speaks to the technical proficiency of Hopfer, one of the leading masters of the etching technique, which involves using acid to create lines and patterns on a metal plate. The print, now housed in The Art Institute of Chicago, showcases the growing interest in exotic subjects during the Renaissance, and specifically, the impact of the Ottoman Empire in Europe.