A Swiss Foot Soldier 1504 - 1530

Niklaus Manuel Deutsch made this pen and black ink drawing of "A Swiss Foot Soldier" sometime around 1522. Look closely, and you’ll notice that the figure is built up from many tiny, careful strokes. This kind of drawing was often a study for a print, which could then be reproduced and sold in multiples. Think of it as the early modern equivalent of a digital file. The lines on the page meticulously describe the soldier’s elaborate armor, puffy sleeves, and the feathers atop his head. The contrast between these fine details and the overall image emphasizes the cost involved in equipping a soldier in the early 16th century. Labor and materials were required for the fabrics, metals, and even the ink and paper. This wasn't just art for art's sake; it was a commodity, a symbol of power and status, carefully constructed and circulated in its own time. By recognizing this, we can appreciate the drawing not just as a beautiful image, but as a document of social and economic history.