Beleg van Grave door Maurits, 1602 1782 - 1784

Simon Fokke created this print titled 'Siege of Grave by Maurits, 1602' sometime between 1712 and 1784, now held at the Rijksmuseum. Fokke’s work presents a meticulously detailed depiction of a 17th-century military siege, during the Eighty Years' War, when the Dutch fought for independence from Spain. Prints like this one served a crucial role in shaping public perception of war. They captured not just the grand strategies of military leaders, but also the visceral realities faced by soldiers and civilians, and acted as a form of propaganda. Consider the emotional impact such imagery had on those who were far removed from the battlefield. Fokke encourages a dialogue between the glorification of military might and the quieter, underlying stories of personal sacrifice and resilience amidst conflict. It invites us to reflect on the complex layers of identity that war both forges and fractures.