Opstelling van artillerie, ca. 1702 1702 - 1703

This print, titled "Opstelling van Artillerie," was made around 1702 in the Netherlands by an anonymous artist. The image depicts an artillery park in a schematic, bird's-eye view, illustrating the organized arrangement of cannons and soldiers, reflecting the growing importance of military organization and technology in the early 18th century. The print’s creation coincides with the War of the Spanish Succession, when the Dutch Republic was a key player in European power struggles. This image underscores the increasing bureaucratization of warfare, and the relationship between military institutions and the public sphere, which were growing increasingly intertwined. Such prints were not just records but tools of propaganda, shaping public perception of military strength. To fully understand this image, we would need to consult military archives, period maps, and political pamphlets, to reveal the complex social and institutional forces at play in its creation and reception.