Five German Soldiers

Description

Daniel Hopfer likely invented the art of etching on paper, adapting it from the long-standing process of decorating arms and armor with acid to etch patterns into steel. The Landsknechte seen here wear minimal armor, just a mail cape (bishop’s mantle), but sport massive swords. They assume various infantry roles, including standard bearer, drummer, fife player, and halberdier. This is the largest of Hopfer’s three etchings of this popular genre subject.

Five German Soldiers

Daniel Hopfer, I

1505/36

Accession Number

80087

Medium

Etching in black on buff laid paper

Dimensions

Image/plate: 20.2 × 37.7 cm (8 × 14 7/8 in.); Sheet: 23.7 × 41.2 cm (9 3/8 × 16 1/4 in.)

Classification

etching

Museum

The Art Institute of Chicago

Chicago, United States

Credit Line

The Wallace L. DeWolf and Joseph Brooks Fair Collections