Foot Combat with Longswords and Shields c. 1512 - 1515

This drawing of two combatants wielding longswords and shields, was rendered anonymously on paper using watercolor. While the artist and date are unknown, we can still discern much from its materiality. Notice the delicacy of the watercolor application, quite different from the robust labor involved in the making of armor. Each piece of the combatants' armor was likely painstakingly hammered, fitted, and polished by skilled artisans, requiring precision, strength, and specialized knowledge. The suits and swords, emblems of status and power, reveal the hierarchical structures of the time. Although created on paper, the drawing evokes the weight and substance of metal. The subtle gradations of color suggest light reflecting off polished surfaces, conveying a sense of volume and form. Ultimately, it reminds us that even a humble drawing can speak volumes about craftsmanship, social status, and the ever-present tension between art and labor.