De exercitie met de targe en rapier: vijf soldaten staande naast elkaar in het gelid met de targe en rapier voor de borst en de linkervoet naar voren, (nr. 15), 1618 1616 - 1618

Adam van Breen made this print in 1618, depicting soldiers with their shields and rapiers. It's an etching, a printmaking technique where lines are incised into a metal plate with acid, then filled with ink and pressed onto paper. Look closely, and you’ll see the shields are not just functional, but ornamented with detailed patterns. This wasn’t just about protection; it was about display, about class. The labor of crafting such intricate designs speaks volumes. Who were the artisans who made these weapons? What were their working conditions? The soldiers stand in formation, ready for battle, but there’s also a sense of theatricality, a performance of power. It makes you wonder about the relationship between warfare, labor, and art. This print is a reminder that even the tools of war can be objects of craft and aesthetic consideration, blurring the boundaries between art and everyday life.