A Turbanded Soldier on Horseback 1632

Rembrandt van Rijn etched this image of a turbanded soldier on horseback in 17th century Netherlands. The vogue for exoticism, especially of the “Orient,” was growing at this time as Dutch traders ventured further east. But it’s interesting that Rembrandt, himself, never traveled to the East. Instead, the artist most likely sketched this from models in his studio, using costumes and props that were in vogue among artists at the time. This was a period when Dutch identity was being forged through military and economic expansion, including the establishment of the Dutch East India Company. Such a figure might reference the Dutch military presence in overseas territories. Note also the figures on the left who seem to bow to the horseman. Is Rembrandt commenting on the hierarchical nature of Dutch society? To better understand this work, scholars have researched Dutch fashion of the time, the history of the Dutch East India Company, and Rembrandt’s own biography. Such a figure would have held different meanings for different contemporary viewers, depending on their social position.