Tekstblad bij een prent van slag bij Borgerhout, 1643 Possibly 1643 - 1649

This is a leaflet from 1643 by Jan van Hilten, now at the Rijksmuseum, that recounts the battle of Borgerhout, near Antwerp. The text, dense with names and troop movements, is broken up by the decorative initials which introduce sections, adorned with foliage. These flourishing letters, common in printed texts of the era, are a potent symbol. They recall the illuminated manuscripts of the Middle Ages, where initials were lavishly decorated, acting as portals to sacred texts, passages to higher understanding. Over time, this tradition evolved. The visual weight and the placement of these initials draw the reader's eye, a powerful gesture to guide us through the written account. Like Ariadne's thread, they help us navigate through an event, where words are not simply conveyors of information but invitations to participate in a shared experience. Though the initials have lost their original religious context, they still engage our subconscious need for symbolic anchors.