Siddende romersk soldat 1666

Leendert van der Cooghen created this print, “Sitting Roman Soldier,” sometime in the 17th century. The Dutch Golden Age, the period in which Van der Cooghen was working, grappled with questions of power, trade, and national identity as the Dutch Republic rose as a major maritime force. This etching depicts a seated Roman soldier as he wistfully holds his head in his hand. Behind him, figures emerge from a building’s doorway. As an etching, this work enabled the broader distribution of images, allowing for new forms of social and political discourse. Van der Cooghen’s choice to depict a Roman soldier also evokes the complex relationship between the Dutch Republic and its classical forebears. The Republic often looked to the Roman Republic as a model for its own political structures. But the emotional register here complicates any straightforward glorification of empire. The image of the soldier, weary after battle, taps into the experiences of those caught in the conflicts of the era. This work reminds us that even in moments of national pride, we can reflect on the emotional toll of those historical narratives.