Soldaten bij een boerderij 1632 - 1668

"Soldiers by a Farm" was made by Robert van den Hoecke, sometime in the mid-17th century. The etching depicts a group of soldiers gathered around a rural farmhouse, a scene that reflects the realities of the artist's life during the tumultuous period of the Thirty Years' War. Van den Hoecke, himself a military engineer and court painter, captures a sense of unease amidst the everyday. The soldiers, though seemingly at rest, carry an air of authority that contrasts with the simple life of the farmers. How do we reconcile the presence of the military with the domestic sphere? Perhaps this image is reflective of the ever present nature of the military during this time. The small details, like the thatched roofs and the distant smoke, evoke a sense of place and time. It’s a reminder of the war’s impact on ordinary lives, of how conflict seeps into the most peaceful corners of society. Though modest in scale, the print speaks volumes about the intersection of power, place, and the human condition.