Two Soldiers with Lance and Halberd Conversing 1510 - 1520

Hans Schäufelein created this woodcut, Two Soldiers with Lance and Halberd Conversing, in the early sixteenth century. The image shows the artist’s interest in the military culture of the Holy Roman Empire. Schäufelein worked in Nuremberg and was deeply influenced by the art of Albrecht Dürer, who brought the ideas of the Italian Renaissance to Germany. The rise of mercenary armies coincided with the development of printmaking, and artists like Schäufelein found a market for images that glorified military virtues. The cultural values of the time were deeply rooted in feudal traditions and religious beliefs. We can research the artist's life, the historical context of mercenary armies, and the cultural values of the time to understand this artwork better. By understanding the social and institutional context of the image, we can more accurately interpret the ideas and values it communicates.