Officier te paard met twee soldaten 1573

Jost Amman created this print, "Officier te paard met twee soldaten," during the latter half of the 16th century. Amman, working in the vibrant artistic environment of Nuremberg, found himself amidst the religious and social upheavals of the Reformation. The print depicts a mounted officer accompanied by two soldiers, framed within an elaborate, decorative border. The central figures likely embody the hierarchies and power structures of the military and aristocratic classes of the time. Consider how the print subtly reinforces prevailing social norms. While appearing to celebrate military prowess, it also entrenches notions of class and gender. The robust figures and ornate details could evoke a sense of pride and authority, yet these representations simultaneously exclude other narratives.