Soldaat en een jonge naakte vrouw 1510 - 1552

Hans Brosamer created this print, "Soldier and a Young Nude Woman," sometime in the mid-16th century. It depicts a soldier and a nude woman with a coat of arms to the right of them. The proliferation of printed images in 16th-century Europe dramatically changed the landscape of art, making it more accessible and democratic, but also turning it into a commodity within a growing market. This small print, produced in Germany, would have been relatively inexpensive and circulated widely. Brosamer's work is a product of its time, reflecting cultural interests in classicism, the nude form, heraldry, and military strength. We can see the influence of the Italian Renaissance, particularly in the idealized nude figure. Art historians consult various sources to understand the iconography and symbolism of these prints, including emblem books, historical records, and other visual materials. The meaning of this image is always contingent upon a particular social and institutional context.