Soldiers 1489

Albrecht Dürer made this drawing, entitled 'Soldiers', in pen and black ink around 1496. As a towering figure of the Northern Renaissance, Dürer lived through a time of immense social and religious upheaval in Europe. This work reflects the period's complex attitudes towards war, military service and masculinity. The three soldiers, armed and armored, embody a certain ideal of masculine strength and readiness. Yet, it is hard not to notice a certain theatricality in their poses and dress; it suggests that identity could be as much about performance as it was about inherent characteristics. The details of their garments and weapons also speaks to the growing commercialism of the period, where identity could be bought and sold. Ultimately, the artwork is a meditation on the roles and identities men assume, in times of peace or unrest.