De exercitie met schild en spies: de soldaat trekt zijn rapier van achter zijn schild (nr. 18), 1618 1616 - 1618

Adam van Breen created this etching of a soldier in 1618, a period rife with military conflict and shifting national identities. The print captures a soldier in the midst of a tactical maneuver, drawing his rapier from behind his shield. The image reflects a society where military prowess was intertwined with masculine identity, a symbol of power and control during the early modern period. Van Breen’s choice to depict this particular action highlights the performative aspect of military readiness, the choreography of combat. What does it mean to see one's identity so closely aligned with martial skill? This etching serves as both a historical document and a cultural artifact, encapsulating the anxieties and aspirations of a society grappling with war and the construction of national identity. Consider how the act of depicting this soldier contributes to the narratives of heroism and duty, reflecting the emotional weight placed on those who bore the responsibility of defense.