Beleg van de vesting Gradisca, 1616 1616

Georg Keller created this print titled, "Beleg van de vesting Gradisca," in 1616, now held at the Rijksmuseum. Keller made this print during a period of intense religious and political conflict in Europe. The print depicts the siege of Gradisca, a strategically important fortress, during the Uskok War. Prints like this served as both documentation and propaganda, shaping public perception of these conflicts. Consider who got to tell the story, and whose perspectives were left out. Keller’s detailed rendering of military tactics and fortifications speaks to the era's preoccupation with military prowess and territorial control, reflecting the power dynamics between the Habsburg Empire and its rivals. This image asks us to reflect on the human cost of conflict and the ways in which historical narratives are constructed and disseminated. How do we remember and represent moments of conflict? And whose stories do we choose to tell?