Officers in Peascod Doublets

A young ensign stands in a confident, swaggering pose, wearing a padded peascod doublet, a large ruff, and a feathered cap. He holds a colossal banner that swirls through the air, filling much of the frame with intricate folds of light and shadow. In the distant background, a landscape reveals a city and small groups of soldiers, positioning the figure as a central rallying point.

This print is a masterpiece of the Haarlem Mannerist style, showcasing Hendrick Goltzius's extreme technical virtuosity in engraving textures like silk and metal. Iconographically, it illustrates the importance of the 'Signifer' (standard bearer) as the soul of a military unit, whose presence or flight determined the morale and formation of the entire phalanx.