Zeeslag bij Malaga, 1704

"Zeeslag bij Malaga, 1704" is an engraving made by Johann August Corvinus, who lived through the late Baroque period. It commemorates the naval Battle of Málaga, a significant, albeit indecisive, clash in the War of the Spanish Succession. The print frames a scene of battle with elaborate ornamentation which features symbols of military power along its edges. Text accompanies a map to the bottom right of the image, and a large description of the battle is shown to the left, contained within a decorative border. Consider the role of prints such as this one, which helped to shape public perceptions of military events. In an era without photography, how did images like this influence understandings of war and national identity? What does it mean to frame a battle within the trappings of power? This image invites us to consider how history is constructed through representation, and how these representations can shape our understanding of the past.