Landsknechten met het Habsburgse vaandel en Italiaanse edelen, plaat 32 Possibly 1530 - 1699

Nicolaas Hogenberg created this engraving, “Landsknechten met het Habsburgse vaandel en Italiaanse edelen, plaat 32,” around 1500, presenting a grand procession rendered in meticulous detail. The composition is dominated by a dense assembly of figures on horseback, their forms defined by the stark contrast of light and shadow characteristic of engraving. The verticality of the spears creates a rhythmic backdrop which draws the eye towards the elaborate Habsburg banner, a symbol of power and authority. The artist's use of line and texture invites contemplation on the themes of hierarchy, ceremony, and the visual encoding of social order. Hogenberg masterfully uses hatching and cross-hatching to model the figures and their garments, giving a tangible weight to the scene. This detailed approach serves not only to depict the event but also to underscore the importance of each element within the spectacle. It captures a moment imbued with political significance and cultural performance.