Portaal gedecoreerd met kanonnen, wapentrofeeën en een gewapende man boven de deur 1593 - 1595

Wendel Dietterlin created this print of a portal decorated with cannons, weapons and a guard, sometime in the late 16th century. Dietterlin was working during a period of immense social and religious upheaval. The Protestant Reformation had challenged the established order, leading to wars and conflicts across Europe. His work demonstrates an obsession with ornamentation and elaborate architectural fantasies, reflecting the aesthetics of the Northern Renaissance, but also the tensions of his time. The portal's aggressive military motifs, featuring cannons and a statue of an armed man, speak to the era’s glorification of military power. This imagery creates an environment of constant readiness. The presence of a solitary guard at the door suggests a world where vigilance and defense are necessary, reflecting a society deeply marked by conflict and the ever-present threat of violence. What does it mean to live in a world where even the entrance to a building is a display of military might? The imagery invites us to consider the psychological impact of such pervasive displays of power on daily life and the human psyche.