De exercitie met de targe en rapier: de soldaat steekt zijn rapier terug in de schede, (nr. 11), 1618 1616 - 1618

Adam van Breen created this engraving of a soldier with a rapier and shield in 1618. The image is likely part of a series meant to standardize military training in the Dutch Republic. Following independence from Spain, Dutch society and its institutions underwent significant changes. Military reform became a key aspect of this transformation, with the goal of creating a more professional and unified army. Manuals and guides like this played a crucial role in disseminating new techniques and ensuring consistency across different units. Here, the act of sheathing the rapier might symbolize a return to order and discipline after battle. The engraving reflects a society trying to redefine itself through a sense of military organization. To understand this work more fully, one could consult military archives and period training manuals. Only then can we grasp how art was deeply intertwined with the political and social projects of its time.