Encampment of the Army of Willem III near Sint-Truiden, Limburg Possibly 1675

Barend Klotz made this drawing of the Encampment of the Army of Willem III near Sint-Truiden in Limburg on October 16, 1675, using pen and ink on paper. The artist employed traditional drawing materials to depict a scene of military life, emphasizing the labor and logistics of warfare. The ink lines capture the texture of the tents, the weight of the soldiers' gear, and the vastness of the encampment. The choice of materials, pen and ink, allows for a high level of detail, which reflects the artist's keen observation of everyday life, and provides a tangible sense of the amount of work and resources required to sustain an army. This drawing invites us to consider the relationship between art and the social context of the time, blurring the boundaries between documentation and artistic expression, and highlighting the significance of labor, resources, and military efforts.