Recruitment of Troops
1642
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1642
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Recruitment of Troops is a 1642 ink by Gerrit van Schagen, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This etching shows a busy street scene where soldiers march in tight rows, carrying flags and weapons. On the left, a group of men in old-fashioned clothes watch or talk near a building with a tower. Trees frame the top right corner, and a few people stand near tables or tents in the background. The whole scene is drawn in black lines on light paper, with no color. Notice how the artist packed lots of people into the scene—some look ready for battle, others seem to be organizing or recruiting. The text at the bottom is in French, hinting this might be about soldiers leaving home. Look up etching to see how artists like this made detailed prints.
