The Plains of Mars: European War Prints, 1500-1825, from the Collection of the Sarah Campbell Blaffer Foundation

From 1500 to 1825, Europe remained in an almost perpetual state of war. Religion, politics, economics, and dynastic ambition all played a role in the turmoil that spread across the continent. War-related printed images also proliferated during this time, serving a variety of functions―commemorative, propagandistic, iconic, narrative, eulogistic, critical, or instructional.

This handsome volume is the first graphic print survey of the theme of war in the early modern period. Featuring work by such artists as Dürer, Goya, and Géricault, the book presents varied images of soldiers; battles (including specific historical events); production, innovation, and instruction in arms and armor; and representations of abstract concepts related to war and peace. The text includes essays by eminent authorities that illuminate artistic and historical issues of the era.