Slag bij Oudenaarde, 1708 1708

Gilbert Schouten created this print in 1708 using engraving, a process suited to the precise depiction of military strategy. The Battle of Oudenaarde is laid out before us, a complex interplay of lines and symbols meticulously etched into the plate, then transferred to paper. Look closely at the composition and you'll notice how the landscape is reduced to geometric forms, each line representing the movement of troops, the placement of artillery. Notice how the artist conveys information, a topography of conflict rendered through laborious and detailed work. Engraving like this demands not only artistic skill, but also technical expertise, with specialized tools to cut into the metal. It's a process akin to the disciplined formations it depicts. The print served a practical purpose, disseminating knowledge of the battle, yet it's also a testament to the labor involved in producing and consuming images in an era before photography. Schouten’s work invites us to consider the relationship between art, craft, and the social context in which they are produced.