Kaartende soldaten: allegorie op de inname van 's-Hertogenbosch en Wesel in 1629 1629 - 1647

Claes Jansz. Visscher's etching "Kaartende soldaten: allegorie op de inname van 's-Hertogenbosch en Wesel in 1629" (1629-1647) depicts a scene of soldiers playing cards. A group of soldiers sits around a table near a tent while another man sits on a barrel. The soldiers are dressed in military uniforms and are surrounded by military paraphernalia, including a flag flying from the tent. In the distance, a town can be seen, possibly 's-Hertogenbosch or Wesel, which were conquered by the Dutch in 1629. The etching is a satirical commentary on the Dutch victory and the role of gambling in war. The inscription at the bottom of the etching uses the imagery of dice and cards as a metaphor for the unpredictable nature of war and the role of luck in determining victory. This piece is a good example of 17th century Dutch art, often depicting scenes of everyday life. The etching is now in the collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.