Slag bij Woeringen en het aandeel van de Keulse burgerij in de overwinning, 1288 1571

This etching, "Slag bij Woeringen en het aandeel van de Keulse burgerij in de overwinning, 1288," was created by Frans Hogenberg around 1590. It portrays the Battle of Woeringen, a significant medieval conflict, and emphasizes the role of Cologne's citizenry in the victory. Hogenberg, living in a time of religious and political upheaval, uses the print to connect the historical event with contemporary issues of civic identity and pride. Divided compositionally, the scene on the left depicts the more domestic sphere, and on the right, the chaotic site of battle. Bodies hang in the entryway, signaling the stakes of battle. Hogenberg seems to be speaking to the complex dynamics between military actions and civil life. The artist highlights the active participation of the common people in the battle as pivotal to the victory, while also showing us the cost of war on the civilian population. This piece invites us to consider the ever present relationship between conflict, citizenship, and sacrifice.