Plattegrond van Rheinfels (Sankt Goar) 1700 - 1735

Here we see an anonymous engraving of the Plattegrond van Rheinfels (Sankt Goar). This detailed map offers a glimpse into the strategic importance and cultural landscape of the Rhineland. Maps like these were essential tools for military planning, trade, and asserting territorial claims during a period marked by intense geopolitical competition. Consider how the depiction of the landscape, with its fortifications and river, reflects a society deeply concerned with defense and control. What stories might these carefully rendered fortifications tell us about the ever-shifting boundaries of power? The Rhine, more than just a waterway, served as a vital artery connecting diverse communities and economies. What does it mean to chart a space? How does it become a tool of power? This image is a reminder of the ways in which the act of mapping can shape our understanding of place, identity, and belonging.