De exercitie met schild en spies: de soldaat in een verdedigende houding met een voet naar voren en met zijn rapier en schild op de knie voor het lichaam (nr. 21), 1618 1616 - 1618

Adam van Breen made this print of a soldier with shield and rapier in 1618. It gives us a glimpse into the military culture of the Dutch Republic during the early 17th century. This image isn't just a portrait; it's a demonstration of a specific combat stance, one of a series. The detailed depiction of armor and weaponry speaks to the period’s preoccupation with military readiness, reflecting the ongoing Eighty Years' War. Consider the role of the artist here. Was van Breen commissioned by military institutions to create a visual manual? Or was he responding to a broader cultural interest in martial subjects? Studying military manuals and the broader publishing market of the time, we might start to understand how knowledge was circulated, and how the role of the artist was changing. The meaning of this print lies in its relationship to the society that produced it.