The Standard Bearer, Turned to Left
1587
Hendrick Goltzius’s 1587 engraving captures a flamboyant standard bearer striding forward with exaggerated, almost comically long legs—a hallmark of the Mannerist style. Clad in a puffy, slashed doublet and a stiff ruff collar, he grips a massive flag that billows dramatically behind him, taking up most of the composition. Below his confident gaze, tiny soldiers skirmish in a detailed landscape, emphasizing his heroic scale. The Latin inscription at the bottom proudly declares that the army stands or flees with him, making this print a perfect blend of military bravado and artistic flair.
- Technique
- engraving
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