Ringsteken op de Meir, 1594 1594 - 1595

Pieter van der Borcht created this print called ‘Ringsteken op de Meir’ in 1594. We see a festive tournament taking place in Antwerp, then part of the Spanish Netherlands. The image presents a highly formalized and hierarchical scene. The architectural backdrop and the elevated viewing stands are visual cues to the wealth and power of the city’s elite. This display of horsemanship was about more than just sport; it reinforced social status and military readiness at a time of political and religious conflict. Antwerp, a major port city, was a key site in the struggle between the Dutch Republic and Spanish rule. Public events like these were carefully orchestrated to project authority and maintain order. Understanding this print requires us to look at the economic, political, and social history of the period. Contemporary chronicles, city records, and iconographic studies can reveal the complex meanings embedded in such images. After all, art is a product of its time and place.