Overwinning van Hendrik IV bij Montjoie, 1587 c. 1589 - 1593

Frans Hogenberg’s “Overwinning van Hendrik IV bij Montjoie, 1587” is a detailed engraving depicting a key battle, full of movement and conflict. The composition is structured to lead the eye from the foreground melee to the distant, almost abstract rendering of the landscape. Hogenberg uses line and perspective to create depth, dividing the scene into distinct zones of action. The chaotic arrangement of figures and horses gives a sense of dynamism, yet the precise lines also suggest a controlled, almost choreographed scene. This blend of chaos and order challenges the viewer. The engraving uses semiotic codes of battle, such as flags and weaponry, to convey the narrative, but the emphasis on the visual structure moves beyond simple storytelling. The detailed lines and balanced composition elevates it to a symbolic representation of power and conflict. Notice how the formal elements—the linear precision, the spatial organization, and the balance between chaos and order—work together to create a powerful, if stylized, depiction of war.