Plaatsen veroverd door Spinola, 1620-1621 1620 - 1622

This etching, titled "Plaatsen veroverd door Spinola", was created between 1620 and 1621 by Frans Hogenberg. It features a series of circular vignettes arranged in an oval pattern. The monochrome palette emphasizes the intricate details of each miniature landscape. The overall composition invites us to consider the structure of power and spatial control. Each circle functions as a sign, a symbolic representation of a place conquered, collectively forming a visual inventory of Spinola's military achievements. At the center, the portrait and heraldic shield act as focal points, reinforcing the themes of authority and dominion. Structurally, the print operates as a semiotic system. The arrangement of the vignettes creates a visual narrative, mapping out military victories. The etching's visual language invites us to decode its message of imperial power and spatial conquest, reflecting the era’s geopolitical dynamics through a carefully constructed visual order.