Gevecht tussen de heer van Breauté en Gerrit Abrahamsz. Lekkerbeetje op de Vughterheide, 1600 1600 - 1631

This engraving, created in 1600 by Joannes van Doetechum, depicts the Battle between the Lord of Breauté and Gerrit Abrahamsz. Lekkerbeetje on the Vughterheide. Here, we see combatants clashing, a chaotic ballet of bodies and weapons. The horse, a prominent motif, transcends its function as a mere war machine. Throughout history, from classical equestrian statues to Renaissance paintings, the horse symbolizes power and nobility. Yet, here, amidst the disarray, the rearing horse conveys not triumph but the raw, untamed energy of conflict. It echoes the archaic struggle, the "Kampf," revealing the atavistic impulses that drive men to battle. This primal chaos resonates deep within our collective memory, stirring a visceral connection to the timeless theater of war. We witness not just a battle, but the human drama—the fear, courage, and ultimate futility of conflict etched into the very fabric of the image.