Bewakers bij de kruitvaten 1510 - 1599

This print, "Guards at the Powder Kegs", was made by an anonymous artist with an etching technique. Here we see three men in a defensive position around a powder keg with a town on fire in the background. The image likely comes from the period of the Dutch Revolt in the late 16th and early 17th century. If we study the clothing of the men and the architecture of the town, we can surmise that the print was made in the Netherlands. The image creates meaning by visually aligning the three men, powder keg and burning town. The message would seem to be that these men are what stands between order and chaos. What are they protecting? What are they protecting it from? To learn more, we would consult the records of printmaking workshops of the era and study the popular imagery that was in circulation at this time. We must remember that art always reflects the context of the society in which it was made.