Kaart van het beleg van Breda, 1624 1624

This print, “Kaart van het beleg van Breda”, was made in 1624 by an anonymous artist. It’s an etching, meaning the image was incised into a metal plate, likely copper, with a sharp tool. Ink was then applied, the surface wiped clean, and the print taken by pressing paper against the plate. The lines are crisp and precise, giving the map its detailed appearance, with the complex fortifications of Breda and surrounding landscapes carefully articulated. Printmaking was a vital medium for disseminating information and propaganda during the early modern period. The Siege of Breda was a key moment in the Eighty Years' War between the Dutch Republic and Spain, and this print served not only to document the event, but also to shape public opinion. By presenting a meticulously rendered view of the siege, the print conveys a sense of order and control, even amidst the chaos of war. Consider the labor involved, from the initial survey of the land to the skilled hand of the etcher. The print embodies the intersection of art, cartography, and politics, all mediated through the materiality of ink and paper.