Soldaat die zijn spies met beide handen horizontaal op schouderhoogte draagt

About this artwork

pen in bruin, penseel in grijs, doorgegriffeld

Art Historical Context

This striking pen drawing by Jacques de Gheyn II captures a soldier in precise military drill, holding a long spear horizontally at shoulder height with both hands. Created between 1596 and 1606, the work reflects the artist’s deep interest in the disciplined movements of infantry during the Dutch Revolt. De Gheyn, a leading draftsman of the early Dutch Golden Age, produced such studies as part of his groundbreaking series on weapons handling, which helped standardize training across European armies. Executed in brown ink with gray wash and pricked for transfer, the drawing demonstrates the c...