Beleg van Grave door prins Maurits, 1602 1753

Simon Fokke created this print of the Siege of Grave by Prince Maurice in 1602. Notice how Fokke employs a linear structure, organizing the scene through a series of horizontal bands. The foreground, dominated by detailed depictions of soldiers and siege equipment, transitions to the imposing city walls and then to the distant skyline. The composition's strength lies in its balanced distribution of detail. The left side, with its dense assembly of figures under the tree, finds equilibrium in the right, where the city of Grave is under attack. Yet, the lines of sight—soldiers aiming, smoke billowing—all converge towards the center, creating a focal point that subtly leads us through the chaos of war. The print invites us to consider the interplay between order and disorder, control and chaos inherent to warfare. Fokke masterfully uses the print medium to explore themes of power, strategy, and human conflict.