Illustratie voor 'Den Arbeid van Mars' van Allain Manesson Mallet 1672

Romeyn de Hooghe created this illustration for Allain Manesson Mallet's "Den Arbeid van Mars" using etching. The print presents a bird’s-eye view of Lisbon, divided into three horizontal sections. The top section depicts the cityscape under a draped banner, the middle shows the terrain surrounding Lisbon, and the bottom illustrates the city's coastal features with fortifications and ships. The composition employs a structured, almost cartographic approach, typical of military surveys. De Hooghe uses line and form to define spatial relationships and strategic military features. Notice how the etcher meticulously renders the fortifications, buildings, and ships. These details reflect the period's strategic interests and advancements in military mapping. The print functions beyond mere representation; it's a semiotic device encoding military and political power. Consider the relationship between form and function; the ordered layout and precise detailing underscore the engraver's engagement with the themes of military planning. This artwork invites viewers to contemplate how art and cartography intersect to visually represent power and territorial control.