Soldaat-tamboer 1550 - 1587

This is a print called "Soldaat-tamboer," made by Abraham de Bruyn in the late 16th century. It’s an etching, meaning that the image was incised into a metal plate with acid, then inked and printed onto paper. Notice the extraordinary level of detail, especially on the drummer’s costume. De Bruyn wasn’t just showing us a soldier, but also his status. This was an era of constant conflict, and fashionable clothing – like weapons – were a key signifier of power. The printmaking process itself, though indirect, allowed De Bruyn to create multiple impressions of this image, making it accessible to a wider audience. In this way, printmaking democratized images. It also served as a kind of proto-industrial system, allowing artists to disseminate their work far and wide – and to profit from it. So, although this print seems simple, it’s tied to the rise of capitalism and the changing social order of early modern Europe.