Who painted One of the Infantry Combats?

One of the Infantry Combats was painted by Jacques Callot in 1616.

Where can I see One of the Infantry Combats?

One of the Infantry Combats is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is One of the Infantry Combats?

One of the Infantry Combats is associated with Baroque.

Artwork

One of the Infantry Combats

Jacques Callot , 1616

One of the Infantry Combats is an ink print by the Baroque artist Jacques Callot. It dates from 1616 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Jacques Callot’s 1616 print *One of the Infantry Combats* is an etching executed on laid paper. The French baroque artist, active in the Duchy of Lorraine, created the image as part of his extensive output of more than 1,400 etchings that record scenes from early‑17th‑century life, especially military engagements.

Subject & Meaning

The composition presents a densely populated battlefield where infantrymen, cavalry, and fallen combatants intermingle across a muddied ground. Architectural elements such as a row of buildings and a bridge frame the scene, while groups of onlookers occupy the middle ground. The crowded arrangement emphasizes the disorder and intensity of close‑quarter combat.

Technique & Style

Callot employed the etching process on laid paper, allowing him to render fine, layered lines that delineate individual figures, weapons, and terrain features. His baroque sensibility is evident in the dramatic contrast between light and shadow and in the meticulous, almost obsessive detailing that fills every portion of the plate.

History & Provenance

Created during Callot’s productive period in the early 1600s, the print reflects his reputation for documenting contemporary events through printmaking. While specific ownership records for this particular impression are limited, it belongs to the broader corpus of Callot’s military series, which were widely circulated among collectors and patrons across Europe.