Head of an old bearded soldier wearing a helmet c. 1641

Stefano della Bella made this etching of an old bearded soldier wearing a helmet sometime in the mid-17th century. At this time, the Dutch Republic was emerging as a major military and economic power. Military imagery was closely linked with ideas of national identity. Yet, della Bella’s image does not show a youthful, heroic figure ready for battle. Instead, his soldier is old, tired, and perhaps a little world-weary. The print is made in Italy, but the “Avec privilege du Roy” inscription suggests the image was made, or intended, for France. It is part of a series that presents diverse faces, suggesting an interest in physiognomy and character types. What does it mean that the artist chose to depict an old soldier rather than one in the prime of life? Was he questioning the glorification of war, or commenting on the human cost of conflict? These are the kinds of questions we might explore by looking at the social and political context of the image. By looking at costume books, military histories, and the artist’s other works, we can gain a deeper understanding of the values and assumptions that shaped this image.