Foot Soldiers 1632

Adriaen Brouwer made this drawing of foot soldiers with pen and brown ink in the 1630s. Here, the character of the lines is everything. The artist coaxes our eyes to interpret the drawing, which is rendered in delicate strokes. The drawing’s material, the ink, is of course key. The quality of the line dictates the weight and presence of each soldier. The light brown ink and the precision drafting of the lines imbues the drawing with a lively sense of motion. The repeated lines and cross hatching create texture, and evoke the clothing, weapons, and flesh of these working class men. The artist is concerned with the effects of war on society, and on those conscripted to fight. The drawing has a vital energy and immediacy. It captures a moment of everyday life, of soldiers marching, and reminds us that drawing is also a vital and energetic act.