Inname van Porto Ercole 1583

Curator: Before us is Philips Galle’s engraving, “Inname van Porto Ercole,” created in 1583. This print, housed here at the Rijksmuseum, depicts the historical capture of Porto Ercole. What's your initial reaction to this intricate landscape, Editor? Editor: Woah, my first thought is it’s just teeming with tiny soldiers. A real epic vibe. The overall feeling is of this massive operation grinding its way across the countryside. Does make me wonder what's going through those little dudes’ heads though. Curator: The scale certainly communicates power. Galle’s process involved meticulous engraving on a metal plate. This technique was common for distributing information during the Renaissance, transforming events like the capture of Porto Ercole into reproducible narratives. Notice the detailed rendering of military formations and siege tactics. The print functioned almost as a news report. Editor: A news report... before photography! That's kind of mind-blowing. So, was Galle actually there? Or did he base it off secondhand accounts, maybe even sketches from the battlefield? You can almost feel the dust and hear the clang of weapons – even the horses seem stressed. Curator: Galle likely compiled information from various sources; firsthand accounts and military sketches as you guessed. He wasn’t solely focused on accurate documentation. He infused the print with a certain idealization, common in Renaissance depictions of warfare, emphasizing strategy and order. Note the positioning of the central figures. It lends the scene gravitas. The emphasis on material culture—weapons, armour—speaks to the means of conquest. Editor: Absolutely. I see how he shapes the narrative, controlling our perception. Makes me question what’s missing though, the less glorious aspects, the true human cost maybe. It feels very formal. But even that formal style makes me stop to think what wasn't seen or wasn't considered worth representing in those days. Curator: That critical awareness is vital. By examining the materials and the methods, the tools of dissemination available at the time, we come to view "Inname van Porto Ercole" as more than just an image. Editor: Right. So, the artist shapes the view, technology spreads the news, we interpret and maybe find new questions to ask about it all! Thanks for walking me through that, makes you think...