Cales Males (Cadiz) door de Hollanders en Engelsen ingenomen, 9 Juni 1596 1596 - 1598

Here we see an anonymous engraving depicting the siege of Cádiz by English and Dutch forces in 1596. The visual field is dominated by a multitude of ships, yet one symbol, the compass rose, stands out, orienting us amidst this maritime chaos. This compass rose, a motif found across various cultures and eras, is not merely a navigational tool. The compass mirrors the ancient preoccupation with understanding our place in the cosmos, echoing earlier symbolic maps of the world. It represents a desire to impose order on the unknown, connecting the earthly and the celestial. Consider its appearance in medieval mappa mundi, where Jerusalem often stood at the center, reflecting a spiritual orientation. The compass rose in this print symbolizes ambition, in this case reflecting a desire to chart new territories, as well as the psychological impulse to control and dominate. It highlights the interplay between navigation, power, and the human psyche's quest for understanding.