Tekstblad bij een (ontbrekende) de prent van het beleg van Bergen op Zoom door Spinola, 1622 1622

This broadside engraving, made in Leiden by Nicolaes van Geelkercken around 1622, accompanied a print – now missing – depicting the siege of Bergen op Zoom by Spanish forces. But more than just documenting a military event, this text highlights the "wonderful change" that occurred, suggesting a miraculous deliverance of the city. In the context of the Eighty Years' War, such imagery served a vital public role. It wasn't just about informing people. It was about shaping public opinion and bolstering morale in the face of conflict. Visual codes, like detailed depictions of fortifications, were meant to convey strength and resilience. Cultural references to divine intervention reinforced the idea that the Dutch cause was righteous. To truly understand this image, we need to delve into the history of Dutch printmaking, the socio-political climate of the Dutch Republic, and the institutional structures that supported artistic production. This involves consulting archives, pamphlets, and other primary sources to reconstruct the world in which this image was created and consumed.