Krijgers en een man met een musket c. 1660

This is a drawing of five figures engaged in a battle scene by Wouter Schouten, created circa 1660. The work is a preparatory drawing, or "sketch," which artists used to work out their ideas and composition before creating their final artwork. In this case, the artist is exploring the positions and postures of warriors with their swords drawn. The composition appears to be informal, with figures spread out across the page, suggesting that this was a quick and casual drawing, rather than a more carefully considered design. The figures are drawn in pencil, which gives the drawing a light and airy quality. The composition of the drawing is simple, with the figures arranged in a horizontal row across the page. This drawing is a prime example of a "study" in the development of a work of art.