Illustratie voor 'Den Arbeid van Mars' van Allain Manesson Mallet 1672

This illustration for Allain Manesson Mallet’s ‘Den Arbeid van Mars’ was made around the turn of the 18th century by Romeyn de Hooghe. It's an etching, a printmaking technique that uses acid to cut into a metal plate, which is then inked and printed onto paper. The image is divided into two distinct sections: at the top, a geometric plan of a fortress, rendered with precise lines; below, a lively battle scene, filled with figures and action. Look closely and you can see how the stark precision of the fortress plan contrasts with the chaotic energy of the battle. Etchings like this were produced in multiples, like a form of industrial production. De Hooghe’s skill in this technique allowed for the widespread dissemination of military knowledge and, perhaps unintentionally, glorified the brutal realities of war, turning them into a kind of spectacle for mass consumption. This work is a reminder that even seemingly technical drawings can be deeply embedded in the social and political contexts of their time.