Dijken doorgestoken bij Antwerpen, 1585 1585 - 1599

This print, ‘Dijken doorgestoken bij Antwerpen’, was made in 1585 by an anonymous artist, and captures a key moment in the siege of Antwerp. Produced using engraving, a printmaking technique involving cutting lines into a metal plate, the image bears the mark of skilled labor and precise execution. But it also reflects a moment of great social and political tension. The deliberate piercing of the dikes, a drastic act of hydraulic warfare, is rendered with meticulous detail, foregrounding its impact on the landscape. Look closely, and you can almost hear the clamor of conflict and see the disruption of lives and livelihoods. While ostensibly a documentary record, the print also serves as a powerful commentary on the human cost of war. In doing so, it transcends its function as a mere illustration, becoming a potent symbol of resilience, resistance, and the enduring impact of human actions on the environment. This print, like so many other works of art, reminds us that craft and art are deeply intertwined with the social and political realities of their time.