Ottoman Soldier with Captive Austrian Peasants

Hans Guldenmund, Osmanischer Soldat mit gefangenen österreichischen Bauern, Holzschnitt, 16. Jahrhundert; Bildquelle: © Bildagentur für Kunst, Kultur und Geschichte (bpk), Bildnummer 30033070.

During the Turkish Wars of the 16th century, the hegemonic conflicts between the Habsburg and the Ottoman Empire, pamphlets played an important role as propaganda and as a means of mobilising the will to fight against the Ottoman troops. Woodcuts, such as this one, were meant to illustrate the cruelty of the Turks and enhanced the fear of the Turks in the Holy Roman Empire.

Hans Guldenmund, Ottoman soldier with captive Austrian peasants, woodcut, 16th century; source: Bildagentur für Kunst, Kultur und Geschichte, http://www.bpk-bildagentur.de/, image no.: 30033070, © bpk.