14de-eeuws harnas met lans uit het leger van Jan II van Frankrijk, uit de collectie van het Musée d'Artillerie in Parijs before 1882

This is a photograph of 14th-century armor with a lance, once part of the army of John II of France, and now housed in the Musée d'Artillerie in Paris. The identity of the photographer is unknown. Consider the historical context: the Hundred Years' War was in full swing during John II's reign, a conflict deeply rooted in feudal obligations and national identities. This armor, more than a suit, embodies the complex intersections of class, power, and masculinity. It speaks to the economics of warfare, the social status of knights, and the idealized image of masculine strength. Standing before this photograph, one can only imagine the weight of the metal, both physically and symbolically, and consider the lives shaped by these historical forces. The armor represents protection, and yet, as history tells, it was no guarantee of safety, nor justice.