Gezichten en plattegronden van Maastricht, Namen, Charleroi en Fort Charlemont, ca. 1702 1702 - 1703

Laurens Scherm created these prints of Maastricht, Namen, Charleroi, and Fort Charlemont around 1702. The star-shaped fortresses stand out, symbols of military strategy and power of the era. These star-shaped forts, with their angular bastions, evoke a sense of geometric order imposed upon the land, a concept that dates back to ancient defensive structures. Consider the walls of Jericho, or even Roman military camps, and how the need for protection has long shaped human construction. Over time, this motif has resurfaced—from Renaissance fortresses to modern military installations. The psychological impact of these forms is undeniable; the sharp angles and precise geometry convey a sense of control, but also, perhaps, of paranoia and the constant threat of conflict. It is this cyclical return and evolution of defensive architecture that connects our past anxieties with present realities.