Gezicht te Wouw waar het hoofdkwartier van de Fransen was gevestigd in 1747 1772

Simon Fokke created this print of Wouw near Bergen op Zoom, a town that served as the French headquarters in 1747. It presents a seemingly straightforward depiction of a place steeped in a history of conflict. Fokke, as a skilled engraver, was part of a burgeoning print market that catered to a desire for images of both real and imagined places. But this image is more than a neutral record. It is a careful construction of Dutch identity against the backdrop of war. The serene landscape, with its church and stately home, stands in contrast to the ruins. These ruins remind us of the ever-present threat of invasion, but also of Dutch resilience. Consider how Fokke, as a man living in a time of political upheaval, navigated his role as both artist and citizen. The print invites us to reflect on the relationship between place, memory, and identity, and the stories we tell ourselves about who we are.