De prinses van Espinoy raakt gewond bij de verdediging van Doornik, 1581 1783 - 1785

This drawing by Jacobus Buys captures a moment of fierce resistance during the defense of Doornik in 1581. The central motif is the wounded princess, her body caught in a dramatic struggle, surrounded by armed conflict. Consider the image of the wounded female figure. We see echoes of this throughout history; from ancient depictions of martyred saints to classical heroines, her suffering embodies resilience and defiance. This pose—the body twisted, the arms outstretched—evokes a primal response, a visual shorthand for vulnerability and courage. The princess’s gesture of defiance and the clash of steel around her create a potent tableau of collective memory. We are drawn into this scene, subconsciously connecting to centuries of similar images of resistance and sacrifice. It’s a visceral reminder of how certain symbols transcend time, continuously resurfacing in our cultural consciousness.