Soldaat met een lans in zijn rechterhand 1552 - 1584

This print, "Soldier with a lance in his right hand", was made by Nikolaus Solis in the late 16th century. The image presents a soldier in detailed armour, standing in a landscape with buildings, holding a lance. This work was created in the context of the Reformation and Counter-Reformation, a time of intense religious and political conflict in Europe, which saw the rise of powerful states and standing armies, transforming the nature of warfare and reshaping European society. The artist lived in Germany. The Holy Roman Empire at the time was a complex patchwork of territories, each with its own rulers and interests. The art market at the time was increasingly shaped by wealthy patrons and civic institutions. Art historians would use these contexts, and the image itself, as primary source material, cross-referencing them with other documents to try and explain the social world of the past.