Staande cavalier met stok, op de achtergrond strijdkrachten bij een bastion 1633 - 1665

Salomon Savery created this print of a standing cavalier, backed by military forces, using etching. It is part of a series of eight prints portraying officers. This cavalier, adorned with the symbols of status and authority, embodies the military elite of the Dutch Golden Age. Consider how attire and posture communicate power. The gaze is directed forward and slightly upward which imbues the figure with importance. This image emerges from a society undergoing significant transformation. The Netherlands was asserting its independence amidst religious and political conflict. What role did military leaders play in this society? Savery was a member of the Walloon community in Amsterdam - descendants of Protestant refugees from what is now Belgium and France. How might Savery’s family history influence his depiction of military figures? Notice the detailed rendering, especially in the clothing, which may represent the artist's focus on realistic, identifiable figures. These prints offer insight into the social and political structures of the 17th century Netherlands.