Ontzet van Turijn, 1706 1712 - 1715

This engraving, "Ontzet van Turijn, 1706," was created by Johann August Corvinus. Notice how the open book form dictates the composition. On the left, a bird’s eye view of the battle appears, framed by ornate, asymmetrical foliage. The visual busyness contrasts with the landscape at the center of the open book, where the stark contrast between the sky and land creates depth. On the right, the action re-emerges in another vignette with a contrasting frame, echoing the left but enclosing text. Here, Corvinus uses the very structure of the book as a formal device. Each page operates as a contained unit, yet the narrative unfolds across the spread. This challenges a linear reading of the image, encouraging a comparative analysis of its components. The frames themselves become a semiotic device, delineating different layers of meaning within the historical narrative. Consider how the composition of each page, complete with text, landscape, and vignettes, functions almost as a miniature world, reflecting the broader scope of the historical event it portrays. This interplay of form and content invites us to reflect on how historical narratives are constructed through visual and textual elements.