Dood op het slagveld 1620 - 1664

Stefano della Bella made this print, "Death on the Battlefield," using etching techniques in the mid-17th century. It depicts a skeleton on horseback, a representation of Death, presiding over a chaotic battlefield, highlighting the grim realities of war. This was a period marked by widespread conflict in Europe, especially the Thirty Years' War, and this image clearly comments on that state of affairs. The print's composition, with Death as the central figure, uses visual codes to convey messages about mortality and power. The chaotic battlefield setting suggests the widespread suffering caused by war. The Rijksmuseum, where this print is housed, plays a significant role in preserving and presenting such historical artifacts, shaping our understanding of the past. To fully understand Della Bella’s commentary on the culture of his time, we would need to examine period sources relating to the history of warfare, alongside contemporary writing on the role of the artist in society.