British Museum - Prints Collection

[hsifeng]

I have a search filter set up on Yahoo that occasionally throws me an interesting research bone. Today’s was a pre-set image search of the British Museums print collection (search: “Block cut by Jost de Negker”). I ended up seeing a few images that I have missed in prior woodcut searches/collections; including these two.

 

 

Both of these images were carved between 1525-1530, with the actual publication of these prints falling around 1580-1585; according to museum records. I love the ‘tassel’ detail down the right leg of the Spiesstrauger, and I am always pleased to find more ‘handgunners’! 

:D

Comments

[peacockdress.livejournal.com]

Cool, I don't know what I'm looking at, but it's way cool...

[hsifeng.livejournal.com]

*chuckle* Now you know how I felt during the Great Oak Leaf Dress Posting of 2009...*grin*

Although, seriously, I got a lot out of those posts.

These are German Landsknecht mercenaries, circa the early part of the 16th C. In the employ of the Holy Roman Empire (most likely).

[peacockdress.livejournal.com]

So their specialist skill was not ninja stealth, I'm guessing? More of an element of surprise like the 1st Battalion Transvestite Brigade (4:20), I expect?

[hsifeng.livejournal.com]

Yes, Eddie would have been a wonderful Landsknecht. *chuckle* Oh, except they don’t seem to like high heels as much as he does. ;)

The theories about "why" they dressed that way range from flaunting of period sumptuary law (which I have not found proof of, depite the long-standing reenactor stories) to the slightly ridiculous (as a means to pack more plunder onto their person in the form of fabric).

To me, it appears to simply be an evolution from the more tightly fitted styles into sometime designed to show a disregard of 'accepted' societal norms. I tend to associate it with the sort of 'bling and low riding pants' fashions of the Gangsta movement. Logical? Nope. But is sure shows where you are from and what you are about.

[peacockdress.livejournal.com]

How fascinating!!

[hsifeng.livejournal.com]

I should have been clearer in my response: Obviously they are flaunting sumptuary laws (depending on your take on how accurate the artists are being to what was actually worn vs. using soldier images as social commentary/allegory). The question is if they were somehow legally permitted (ala an exemption from the Emperor) to do so.

The oft quoted ‘Diet’ or declaration that supposedly gave them this permission has yet to be fully explored – damn my deplorable understanding of the German language and seemingly one-track-mind when it comes to insisting on original documentation when available. Alternate (slightly later) versions of these Imperial edicts are clear in stating that general soldier are not given special clothing permissions, and are expected to dress within the fashion guidelines of their everyday social stations.

[hsifeng.livejournal.com]

*chuckle*

Sorry, you seem to have hit my 'rant' button. *eye roll* This is a topic of many, many hours of discussion with lots of Landknecht-y folks I know.