Mars

Mars is shown in a dynamic, twisted pose that highlights his powerful musculature, a hallmark of the Dutch Mannerist style. He wears an ornate helmet with billowing feathers and carries a spear, symbols of his role as the god of war and one of the seven planetary deities. The print uses multiple woodblocks to create highlights and mid-tones, giving the figure a three-dimensional, sculptural appearance.

As one of the seven planetary gods, Mars was a key figure in Renaissance astrology and alchemy, symbolizing the metal iron and the choleric temperament. This print reflects the Mannerist interest in the 'heroic' body as a vehicle for expressing the archetypal powers described in the Neoplatonic and Hermetic traditions.