Cartouche met veldslag c. 1630 - 1635

Daniël Kellerthaler created this small, 99 by 137 mm, etching depicting a battlefield scene in the 17th century. The conflict is framed by an ornamental cartouche, flanked by angelic figures. Kellerthaler lived during the Thirty Years' War, a period of immense upheaval marked by religious conflict, famine, and disease. His decision to depict a battle scene should be viewed in light of these historical realities. The print presents us with a romanticized vision of war, one far removed from the grim realities experienced by those who lived through it. The artist was working within a society deeply stratified by class. This affected who could participate in and profit from art. This battle scene, though small in scale, reflects the grand narratives favored by the elite at the time. It evokes power and heroism, yet it's critical to consider whose stories are being told and whose are being erased. Consider how images like this one shaped perceptions of war and heroism during a time of great social and political unrest.