Schouwburg van den oorlog (blad IX), 1708 1708 - 1710

Pieter Schenk produced this print titled 'Schouwburg van den oorlog' or 'Theatre of War' in Amsterdam in 1708, using etching. The print presents a series of maps and battle scenes related to the War of the Spanish Succession, a major European conflict. It offers insights into the Dutch Republic’s involvement in European politics. These maps were not just geographical tools; they were instruments of power, defining territories and shaping narratives about military campaigns. The images construct meaning through visual codes of cartography and representations of warfare. Made in the Netherlands, these prints reflect the country's prominent role in cartography and its commercial interests tied to maritime power and colonial expansion. They served as propaganda, illustrating the geopolitical strategies of the Dutch Republic. To understand this print better, we delve into archives, maps, and historical accounts, examining its production, circulation, and consumption. Art becomes meaningful through the social and institutional contexts that shape its creation and reception.