Hendrick Goltzius: Two officers (1587)

(Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands)

Two engraving by the Dutch artist Hendrick Goltzius (1558-1617). The set shows two officers of the Dutch army in the 16th century (the 'Dutch States Army' or in Dutch 'Staatse leger'). On the left is a captain of the infantry and on the right a standard bearer. An interesting detail on both engraving are the so-called 'goose bellies' (in Dutch ganzenbuiken or Gänsebauch), a fashion trend in the 16th century. The doublet was filled in at the front in order to emphasize the correct posture of shoulders back and chest out. Both engravings are from 1587.