Kaart van het Hoogheemraadschap van Delfland 1712 - 1735

Editor: We're looking at a work titled "Kaart van het Hoogheemraadschap van Delfland," a print, an engraving created sometime between 1712 and 1735 by Luggert van Anse. It's a beautifully detailed map, and what strikes me is the way land and power seem so intricately linked. What do you make of this piece? Curator: Indeed, this map transcends mere geography; it's a powerful statement about control and administration. In 18th-century Holland, water management was not just an engineering feat, but a political imperative. Delfland, as represented here, wasn't simply a place; it was a carefully constructed entity. Note how the borders are emphasized, almost celebrated with heraldic symbols. What does that suggest to you about the purpose of this map? Editor: It feels like more than just navigation; it’s about asserting dominance and perhaps communicating ownership. Those heraldic symbols, like visual flags, are so carefully rendered, as are the vignettes of people managing the waterways, really reinforce that sense of control. Curator: Precisely. And consider who commissioned such a map. The Hoogheemraadschap, the water board, was an immensely powerful body. By commissioning this map, they were visually articulating their authority and reminding everyone— landowners, farmers, citizens—of their crucial role in the economic and physical survival of the region. This map becomes a tool for reinforcing existing power structures. Editor: It’s fascinating to think about a map not just as a representation of place, but as an active participant in shaping the socio-political landscape. This really offers an interesting point to contemplate Dutch society and the control of land at this time. Thank you. Curator: It's been my pleasure, seeing the visual articulation of power gives one a different view to its role.