Kapitein van de infanterie 1587 - 1596

This anonymous print, "Kapitein van de infanterie," is a fragmented glimpse into a bygone era, created with ink on paper. The processes of printmaking, specifically etching or engraving, allowed for the reproduction and dissemination of images, making them more accessible to a wider audience. But here, the image is distressed, incomplete. What was once a symbol of power and authority is now a ruin. The material fragility contrasts with the image of the steadfast captain. Consider the labor involved in creating the original image, likely intended as a symbol of military might. Now, it’s as if the relentless forces of time and circumstance have acted upon it, like the social upheavals that challenged traditional hierarchies. The work challenges traditional notions of art and craft by reminding us that even the most meticulously crafted images are subject to the ravages of time, and to shifts in social and political context.