Beleg van Schenckenschans (linkerblad), 1635 1635

"Beleg van Schenckenschans (linkerblad)" is an etching made in 1635 by Willem Hondius, depicting the siege of Schenckenschans. Consider the significance of cartography in the 17th century, when maps were not merely representations of space, but tools of power, strategy, and control. Hondius's detailed rendering of the siege is a statement of Dutch military might during the Eighty Years' War. This image invites us to reflect on whose perspectives are privileged in historical narratives. Maps like these were commissioned by those in power, often omitting the experiences of ordinary soldiers and civilians who bore the brunt of war. As you observe the siege unfolding, consider the human cost of conflict, the disruption of lives, and the displacement of communities. What stories remain untold in this seemingly objective representation of war?