Plattegrond van Fribourg, ca. 1693-1696 1693 - 1696

Curator: Here we have "Plattegrond van Fribourg," a drawing and engraving dating back to somewhere between 1693 and 1696. Look at how meticulously detailed it is! Editor: Immediately, I feel this intense order imposed on nature. The stark lines carving up the landscape create this very deliberate...almost sterile feeling. The mountain especially seems caged. Curator: Well, it *is* a plan, after all. The fortifications of Fribourg were clearly a key concern, given the historical context. Notice the almost star-shaped outline of the city walls, reflecting Baroque-era military engineering principles designed for defense. Editor: Absolutely, I see it. That star shape—it’s aesthetically intriguing, yet simultaneously intimidating. Like, here’s your city, precisely rendered, but also here’s the implied threat that surrounds it. Was Fribourg often under siege or threat during this period? Curator: Regularly. Positioned in Switzerland, Fribourg found itself amidst numerous conflicts and shifting alliances in the late 17th century. This plattegrond wasn’t just a pretty picture; it was a strategic document, charting defenses and potentially troop movements. You can see how it could be employed to support its own defense planning. Editor: So, it was a form of power—visualizing control, dominance even, over the territory. It makes you consider the purpose of art then and how it always responds to contemporary events. Look at how everything is shrunk and labeled neatly for control and power. I find it ironic, as Fribourg is stunning and expansive with such dramatic geographic diversity! Curator: That’s exactly right, it tells such a comprehensive and strategic history. To know that what appears as an aesthetic relic served also as something far more, perhaps even to secure political strategies is interesting and profound. Editor: Absolutely, it changes the way I see this piece entirely! Thank you for these valuable insights! Curator: My pleasure, every artwork invites its viewer into dialogue, doesn't it?