Lier ingenomen en verlaten door het Staatse leger, 1595 1595 - 1597

This anonymous engraving from 1595 presents a meticulously detailed aerial view of Lier, captured during its occupation and abandonment by the Dutch army. The composition is dominated by the town's circular layout, its fortifications forming a stark contrast with the regimented farmlands surrounding it. This juxtaposition highlights a tension between the controlled, almost geometric order of the city, and the organic, sprawling nature beyond its walls. The artist uses line work to define every building, road, and field, creating a dense texture that invites close scrutiny. The presence of the army in the foreground serves not just as a historical marker, but also as a semiotic device. Their movement destabilizes the static image of the town, injecting a narrative of conflict and change. It suggests the fragility of urban structures when confronted by external forces. Ultimately, this engraving functions as both a historical document and a complex visual argument about power, space, and the ever-shifting boundaries between order and chaos.