Overval op de vesting en stad Han, 1595 1595 - 1597

This engraving, *Overval op de vesting en stad Han*, was created in 1595 by Frans Hogenberg. The monochromatic print uses line and form to depict a violent raid on Han. Notice how the bird’s-eye perspective flattens the scene, compressing the chaos into a dense network of figures and architecture. The composition is divided into distinct zones. Above, orderly rows of soldiers stand in stark contrast to the melee below, where bodies are strewn across the town. Hogenberg uses the repetition of similar shapes to create a sense of overwhelming turmoil. The geometric regularity of the buildings is disrupted by the scattering of bodies, challenging any sense of order or control. The image functions as a visual text, using semiotic codes to convey information about power, conflict, and territorial struggle. It is not a neutral record but a constructed narrative that reflects contemporary attitudes toward war and conquest. The strategic arrangement of elements within the frame serves to communicate the complexities of this historical event.