Vertrekkend Spaans voetvolk uit Gennep 1641

Pieter Nolpe created this etching, "Departing Spanish Infantry from Gennep," which captures a moment during the Eighty Years' War, a struggle for Dutch independence from Spanish rule. Nolpe’s work offers us insight into the complex dynamics of war and identity. We see not only soldiers, but also civilians, carts, and animals, revealing the broader disruption of the conflict on everyday life. There are people resting in the foreground, seemingly unaffected by the marching soldiers. What does it mean to be a bystander during times of conflict? How do individuals negotiate their identities and loyalties amidst political upheaval? As we consider these questions, this image becomes more than just a historical record; it becomes a mirror reflecting our own roles and responsibilities in contemporary society.