De exercitie met schild en spies: vijf soldaten staande naast elkaar in het gelid met de rapier in de rechterhand en het schild voor de borst (nr. 32), 1618 1616 - 1618

Adam van Breen made this engraving of five soldiers in 1618. The soldiers stand shoulder-to-shoulder in a row, each holding a shield and rapier. This image was created during the early modern period in the Netherlands, a time of significant military and political upheaval. The Dutch Republic was fighting for its independence from Spain, and military exercises and displays of strength were common. As such, this print reflects the militaristic culture of the time, as well as anxieties about national security and social order. The print also serves as a type of visual manual, demonstrating the proper way to hold a shield and rapier. We can learn more about the military strategies of the early modern period in the Netherlands through the study of military history, political science, and art history. Art is rarely made in a vacuum, and historical context is essential to understanding it.