Officier met speer, op zijn rug gezien 1621 - 1667

Jacob Duck created this etching of an officer with a spear, seen from the back, sometime in the 17th century. Duck lived during the Dutch Golden Age, a period marked by the rise of the Dutch Republic and its global trade networks. In this small, detailed print, Duck captures a figure of authority and privilege. The officer's elaborate costume, the lace collar, the puffed sleeves, marks him as a member of the military elite. The spear he carries and the helmet at his feet, are both symbols of power and readiness, but also of a life dedicated to service and the potential for violence. From this perspective, with the officer's back turned, we are denied a direct connection, inviting us to contemplate the weight of responsibility and the sacrifices inherent in positions of power. The print resonates with the complexities of identity during a time of both prosperity and conflict.