Naakte man met speer en soldatenhelm 1679 - 1728

Jean-Baptiste de Poilly made this engraving of a nude man with a spear and soldier's helmet sometime between the late 17th and early 18th centuries. The image is striking because it blends classical and contemporary references. The nude figure, a clear nod to classical antiquity, is juxtaposed with the soldier's helmet, a contemporary symbol of military power in France. The work reflects the cultural and political climate of Louis XIV's France, where the aristocracy had a great interest in classical antiquity. The image of the nude hero-warrior embodies the idea of military virtue as both timeless and rooted in the present. The engraving may be read as a commentary on the social structure of the time, emphasizing the role of the military in maintaining order and projecting power. Further research into the prints and engravings that were popular at the time, along with the study of the political and social history of France under Louis XIV, would help us to fully understand the significance of this image.