Beleg van Haarlem, 1572 1572 - 1574

This is Frans Hogenberg's depiction of the Siege of Haarlem in 1572, rendered in ink on paper. It gives us a bird’s-eye view of the city under siege. The image is a potent blend of cartography and political commentary, reflecting the tumultuous times of the Eighty Years' War, when the Dutch fought for independence from Spanish rule. Haarlem, a strategically vital city, was brutally besieged by the Spanish army, an event that became a symbol of Dutch resistance. Hogenberg's print, made for a European audience keen to follow events in the Netherlands, uses visual codes to convey the intensity of the conflict. Note how the city is encircled by troops. To better understand this artwork, we can consult period chronicles, military reports, and political pamphlets. The Rijksmuseum’s archive is also a very good place to start. These sources help us appreciate how art is contingent on social and institutional contexts.