Illustratie voor 'Den Arbeid van Mars' van Allain Manesson Mallet 1672

Editor: This engraving, titled "Illustration for 'Den Arbeid van Mars' by Allain Manesson Mallet," created in 1672 by Romeyn de Hooghe and housed at the Rijksmuseum, presents a plan of St. Malo. I’m struck by the way the ships scattered throughout the scene give a sense of dynamic movement despite the stillness inherent in a map. How do you interpret the imagery in this print? Curator: For me, the symbolic power rests not merely in the representation of St. Malo, but in how the artist translates its geographical and political presence through a specific lens. Consider the prominent placement of the ships. Do you see how they might symbolize more than just naval activity? Editor: Well, given the title alluding to “The Labours of Mars,” I suppose the ships point to military power, perhaps control and trade dominance? Curator: Precisely. Mars, the god of war, provides a critical framework. Look closely at the city's fortifications. Notice how they're emphasized. The city itself, represented in this way, embodies the martial spirit and perhaps suggests something more: the ever-present potential for conflict and the necessity for vigilance. It's a worldview reflected through cartography. How does understanding the potential cultural context enrich the way we engage with what otherwise may seem just to be a geographical survey? Editor: That’s a really interesting point. I initially saw the image as just a map, but now I see how it actively conveys the city’s military and economic position. The map then performs a certain type of cultural work by representing these dominant ideologies. Curator: Indeed. Visual culture often operates this way, encoding complex narratives and beliefs within seemingly simple images. These maps are not neutral, they communicate power.