Mounted soldier, profile towards the left; in his hand, there is a long spear lifted, as if he were in the act og throwing it 1576

Melchior Lorck created this print of a mounted soldier poised to throw a spear, sometime in the latter half of the 16th century. Lorck was a Danish artist who travelled extensively in Europe and the Ottoman Empire. This image reflects his interest in the visual cultures of the East. Note the soldier's turban and the style of his horse's trappings, which would have seemed exotic to European eyes. As Europeans expanded their trade routes and military power, images of foreign cultures became increasingly popular. Lorck, like other artists, responded to this demand by creating images that both catered to and shaped European perceptions of the world. This print, now held at the SMK, reminds us that even seemingly objective depictions are shaped by the social and political context in which they are made. To fully understand such images, we can consult travel literature, political treatises, and museum collections. Only then can we appreciate the complex interplay between art, culture, and power.