Vestingen en versterkte plaatsen door de Fransen veroverd in 1672 1684

This print by Jacobus Harrewijn, made around 1672, depicts fortifications and fortified places conquered by the French. Notice the recurring star-shaped motif that defines each fortress, a visual echo of man’s attempt to impose order upon the landscape through military architecture. These star-shaped fortifications, with their angular projections, aren't merely functional; they embody a deeper, almost primal impulse. This pattern echoes across time, reminiscent of mandalas or cosmological diagrams, attempts to mirror the heavens and impose structure on chaos. Think of the medieval city plans or even the geometric layouts of ancient Roman camps – the human need to define, control, and protect space manifests in these recurring forms. The collective memory embedded in these shapes speaks to our subconscious fears and desires. The star, a symbol of aspiration, is here refigured into a symbol of defense and containment. The emotional weight of these geometric fortresses is considerable; they represent both the security and the confinement of civilization. The star evolves from a symbol of hope to a symbol of strategic defense, a testament to our cyclical history.