Buste van een soldaat in een harnas 1658 - 1677

Wallerant Vaillant created this bust of a soldier in an etching somewhere in the mid-17th century. Images of soldiers were common at this time in the Netherlands, but it is important to remember that the country was at war. Dutch artists saw it as their civic duty to portray this struggle, and in doing so to define and protect the national character. While a work like this doesn't directly represent combat or the effects of war, its very existence is still very much a product of that conflict, reflecting the values of Dutch society at the time. Vaillant may also have wanted to make a name for himself with this etching, as the art market in the Netherlands at this time depended heavily on portraiture. These kinds of contexts matter for our understanding of art, which is why we consult historical documents, letters, and other archives.