Landsknecht from behind 

This drawing of a Landsknecht soldier was made by Johan le Ducq in the 17th century. Le Ducq lived a life marked by both artistic pursuit and military service, even dying in battle. Here, the Landsknecht, a mercenary of the late 15th to early 17th centuries, is presented from behind, creating a sense of anonymity and distance. The Landsknechts were known for their flamboyant attire and reputation for violence, and it makes you wonder about the relationship between masculinity and violence. Le Ducq's personal experience in military service might lend a particular insight into the life of a soldier. Does this image glorify military service, or does it speak to the loss of identity and individuality that comes with being a soldier? The drawing invites us to reflect on the complex interplay between identity, violence, and representation in times of conflict.