Terugtocht van het leger van de hertog van Parma, 1592 1670 - 1699

In this 1692 engraving by Romeyn de Hooghe, we witness the retreat of the Duke of Parma's army. The scene is meticulously rendered, a dense tapestry of lines creating a panoramic view, from the ships at the shore to the distant battlements on the horizon. De Hooghe masterfully uses perspective to structure the composition, dividing the image into distinct spatial layers. The foreground bustles with retreating soldiers, their forms tightly packed, creating a sense of urgency. The background, meticulously detailed, shows the vastness of the battlefield. The formal organization reflects the historical context of the Eighty Years' War. The linear precision and detailed rendering suggest a world defined by order and rationality, yet the chaotic scene hints at the limitations of such systems when confronted with the realities of conflict. The structure and the details, therefore, highlight the tension between control and chaos inherent in warfare.