Lijst van de legeronderdelen bij het beleg van Namen, 1695 1695

This is a document that was printed anonymously in 1695. It is a list of the army units at the siege of Namur. Observe how the page is dominated by meticulously arranged text. Different fonts and sizes create a visual hierarchy, dividing the information into categories. The neat, orderly structure conveys a sense of control. The artist uses visual elements to create a structured overview of military deployment during the siege. We can consider this list as a form of symbolic language, where each name signifies an army unit and its place within the military structure. It's a very ordered semiotic system of military organisation which reflects the period's inclination for systematizing and categorizing knowledge. The columns and rows, the differing fonts, the use of space—all these elements work together to convey a sense of order. Consider this print as an early form of data visualization, where names, numbers and typographic variations coalesce to represent the complex organization of military forces. It functions not just as a record but as a statement of control.