Ruitergevecht 1620 - 1654

Pieter Cornelisz. Verbeeck created "Ruitergevecht," or "Cavalry Fight," an etching of a battle scene, sometime in the mid-17th century. Living during the Dutch Golden Age, Verbeeck specialized in paintings and prints of horses and military scenes. The print depicts a chaotic clash between cavalry and infantry. Bodies are strewn across the ground as horsemen, brandishing lances, charge into the fray. The conflict could reflect the political turbulence of the time. The Eighty Years' War, which concluded in 1648, shaped Dutch identity and artistic production. Consider how class and power intersect in this scene. The horsemen, likely from more privileged backgrounds, wield significant force, while the infantrymen struggle on foot. Notice the expressions of fear and desperation on the faces of the foot soldiers. Verbeeck's print captures not only the spectacle of battle but also the personal struggles of those caught in its midst. What feelings does this evoke in you?