Strijd tussen de legers van de koning van Polen en Karel, hertog van Sudermanland 1606

Antonio Tempesta created this print of the battle between the armies of the King of Poland and Charles, Duke of Sudermanland. It's a meticulously detailed scene teeming with figures, arranged in a panoramic composition that sweeps from land to sea. The texture of the landscape and the chaos of battle are all rendered with intricate line work, creating a rich visual field. Tempesta uses line to create distinct zones of activity within the print. The lower register presents a dense array of combatants, while the mid-ground opens up to reveal the strategic layout of encampments. The background integrates both the natural and constructed elements. The formal structure of the print reflects the historical context of territorial disputes. The battle isn't just a clash of arms; it's a confrontation between competing claims to power and land. Note the two heraldic devices, which crown the image and act as symbolic markers of the conflict’s underlying motivations. The print functions as both a historical record and a piece of political rhetoric, employing space and scale to underline the magnitude of the conflict. The work invites us to consider how the formal elements serve to convey not just the events of the battle, but also its broader implications.