Plate 6: head of an old bearded soldier wearing a helmet facing right, from 'Various heads and figures' (Diverses têtes et figures) 1650

Stefano della Bella created this print, ‘Head of an Old Bearded Soldier Wearing a Helmet Facing Right,’ as part of his series, 'Various Heads and Figures.' Amidst the backdrop of 17th-century Europe, dominated by conflicts like the Thirty Years' War, della Bella’s etching invites us to consider the human face of war. The soldier’s helmet, meticulously rendered, speaks of protection and preparedness, yet it cannot fully conceal the weariness etched onto his face. The lines deepen around his eyes and mouth, and the beard adds to the image of a seasoned warrior. Della Bella invites us to reflect on the complex interplay between identity and experience. The soldier's gaze, though directed to the right, seems introspective, hinting at a life shaped by duty, sacrifice, and perhaps, disillusionment. This image reminds us that behind every figure in history, there's a person whose story is yet to be fully told.