Beleg van Hulst door aartshertog Albrecht, 1596 1613 - 1615

This is an anonymous print of the Siege of Hulst by Archduke Albrecht in 1596. Note how the landscape is meticulously segmented, each plane packed with dense, active lines that delineate fortifications, troop formations, and waterways. The image is dominated by a structured rendering of space where land and military strategy are intertwined. The composition is spatially divided to present a comprehensive view of the siege. Through the strategic arrangement of elements like the star-shaped fortresses and the linear deployment of troops, the artist constructs a visual language that communicates power and control. The systematic representation of space seems to reflect a world-view rooted in order, yet, this very attempt to map and control introduces a level of abstraction. The relentless detail, etched into the print, transforms military action into a tableau of graphic precision. This approach challenges fixed meanings; the print is not just a record of the siege, but a study in the abstraction of conflict through cartographic representation. The image invites us to consider the ways in which events can be reshaped and re-presented through formal structures.