Man met een gebroken zwaard 1627

"Man met een gebroken zwaard" (Man with a Broken Sword), an etching created by Jan Gerritsz Swelinck in 1627, depicts a man standing on a beach, his sword broken. The scene is enclosed within a circular frame, suggesting an intimate portrait of the man's internal struggle. The man's melancholic posture and the broken sword emphasize the theme of loss and defeat. The presence of a stormy sky above, with lightning bolts, reinforces the mood of turmoil and uncertainty. This evocative print, likely part of a series, offers a glimpse into the Dutch Baroque era's fascination with melancholic and allegorical themes.