Artwork
Foot Combat with Pikes

Foot Combat with Pikes is an ink drawing by the Renaissance artist German 16th Century. It dates from 1514 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Foot Combat with Pikes is a 16th-century drawing created by a German artist around 1515. It measures 33.8 × 26.3 cm and is executed in pen and black ink with watercolor on laid paper.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing depicts a battle scene between soldiers armed with long wooden pikes and metal armor. One fighter is shown standing firm, while the other stumbles, highlighting the intensity of the combat.
Technique & Style
The artist employed brown ink for the outlines and added thin watercolor washes to create shading and details on the armor, utilizing chiaroscuro to give the figures depth and volume.
Context
Battle scenes were uncommon in early 16th-century German art, which typically focused on religious themes, making this type of artwork stand out for its subject matter.
Artist & collection
Artist
A German artist from the late 1500s drew lively scenes of knights clashing in parades and mock battles.



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