Slag bij Seneffe, 11 augustus 1674 1674 - 1675

This anonymous etching depicts the Battle of Seneffe, which occurred on August 11, 1674. At first glance, the eye is overwhelmed by a chaotic yet carefully structured composition of tiny figures amidst smoke and destruction. Notice how the artist employs the technique of aerial perspective, with receding lines and decreasing detail, to create a sense of depth and distance. Dense clusters of combatants in the foreground contrast with the increasingly sparse representation of troops further back, drawing the viewer's eye into the heart of the battle. The formal structure of the artwork highlights the contrast between order and chaos, with the upper band of the print containing descriptive key points, contrasting sharply with the frenzied battle scene beneath. The overall effect is one of organized disarray, where the lines between victory and defeat, order and chaos, are deliberately blurred. By presenting this scene within a structured framework, the artist invites us to question the very nature of conflict and its place in the broader order of things.