Soldatenhoeren 1573

Jost Amman created this print, Soldatenhoeren, or ‘Soldiers’ Whores,’ in sixteenth-century Germany. As a printmaker, Amman was closely tied to the book publishing industry, a rising institution that democratized access to information through visual media. The image shows a motley group of women following an older procuress, presumably camp followers who serviced the armies of the period. The inclusion of weapons – halberds and shovels – may point to the presence of both soldiers and the peasant class who were often forced to serve in military campaigns. The print provides insights into the lives of those on the margins of society, particularly women. Through further examination of period documents—muster rolls, court records, and city ordinances—we can better understand the social and economic factors that shaped these women's lives and the perceptions of them during this time.