Uittocht van het Franse leger uit Utrecht, 1673 1673

This print, made by an anonymous artist, depicts the departure of the French army from Utrecht in 1673. The monochromatic etching is divided into two distinct visual fields: the upper section contains the image itself, filled with figures and architectural details, whilst the lower section is filled with dense text. The texture is detailed yet uniform, creating a stark contrast with the chaotic scene it portrays. Focusing on the upper image, the composition is divided into foreground, middle ground, and background, each densely populated. The foreground is dominated by the departing troops, their figures rendered with varied strokes to suggest movement and disarray. In the middle ground, the skyline of Utrecht is etched with precise lines, offering a stark contrast to the fleeing army. The use of linear perspective draws the viewer's eye towards the distant horizon, but this is complicated by the static, almost monumental, quality of the architecture. The print's structure, with its juxtaposition of text and image, challenges a singular interpretation. It represents an effort to document and editorialize a specific historical moment, complicating traditional notions of historical representation.