Soldaat te paard en te voet 1620 - 1664

Stefano della Bella made this print of a soldier on horseback and one on foot sometime in the mid-17th century. It gives us insight into the realities of military life during the artist’s time. Della Bella was from Florence, and he traveled widely, documenting the social life and military conflicts of his era in meticulous detail. Here, the artist shows us the daily lives of soldiers, capturing the weariness and hardship of their profession. By focusing on the mundane aspects of the soldier's journey, Della Bella humanizes his subjects, inviting viewers to consider their experiences beyond the battlefield. To understand this image better, we can look at period military manuals, soldiers' letters, and other visual representations of military life. These sources help us to consider the social conditions that shaped artistic production and the public role of art.