Aanval op Québec, 1690 1702 - 1703

This is an anonymous print titled "Aanval op Québec, 1690" from the Rijksmuseum. It is a monochrome work composed of fine lines depicting a cartographic representation of the attack on Quebec. The geometric forms of the ships and fortifications contrast with the organic shapes of the landscape. The composition is structured around a central waterway, guiding the viewer's eye from the cluster of ships towards the city. Through careful arrangement of space, the artist creates a sense of depth and tension, emphasizing the strategic positioning of the naval forces in relation to the fortress. The linear precision and lack of color directs focus to the print's function as a tool for understanding spatial relationships and military strategy. The lines of attack create vectors of force, visualizing the dynamics of power and territorial claim. It underscores how cartography itself is a form of visual rhetoric and ideological assertion.