Beleg van Ath, 1706 1714 - 1716

This is Matthijs Pool’s 1706 engraving depicting the siege of Ath, a cartographic rendering of military strategy. Note how the town’s fortress is not just a structure, but a radiating symbol of power, with its star-shaped design echoing fortifications found in various forms across centuries. This star motif appears in different contexts—from ancient city plans to Renaissance-era fortresses. The star shape isn’t merely functional; it’s a powerful signifier, reflecting humanity’s perpetual quest for order and control. In Pool’s print, the star fort evokes a sense of stability and geometric precision. The visual memory embedded in this image is potent. We are subconsciously reassured by the fort’s sharp-angled design, its suggestion of control amidst chaos, and the constant threat of war, a cycle of construction and destruction, protection and aggression, that remains with us.