A Shield is of no Use when Fortune Turns Her Back from Six Sayings about Fortune 1555 - 1565

This engraving was created by Dirck Volckertsz Coornhert sometime in the 16th century. The artist skillfully used metal plate engraving, a printmaking process that requires considerable labor. A design is incised into a metal plate, in this case copper. Ink is then applied to the plate, and then wiped clean, leaving ink only in the engraved lines. The plate is then pressed onto a sheet of paper, transferring the image. Here, we see the allegorical figure of Fortune, rendered as a nude woman, confronting a soldier. The sharp, clean lines of the engraving lend a sense of starkness to the scene, emphasizing the futility of the soldier's shield against the whims of fate. The process itself, etching line by line, mirrors the laborious, often frustrating, efforts of humans to control their destinies in the face of larger forces. Coornhert's choice of printmaking, a relatively accessible medium even in the 16th century, suggests a desire to disseminate his philosophical message widely, democratizing access to these complex ideas. This print stands as a reminder that even the most skilled craftsmanship can be employed to explore profound social and philosophical themes, blurring the lines between art, craft, and intellectual discourse.