Beleg van Geertruidenberg, 1593 1593 - 1595

Frans Hogenberg's etching, "Siege of Geertruidenberg, 1593," presents a bird’s-eye view of military strategy. Note the prominent fortresses, their star shapes speaking to a new age of warfare designed to repel cannon fire, symbols of power and technological prowess. These fortress designs are not born in a vacuum; they echo the ancient Roman castra, military camps that projected control and order across vast territories. Consider the psychological dimension: these shapes, with their sharp angles, evoke feelings of protection, but also a sense of being watched, of confinement. This tension between safety and restriction perhaps reflects the collective anxiety of the time, a subconscious desire for security clashing with the realities of war. The image serves as a mirror reflecting humanity’s complex relationship with conflict, order, and the deep-seated need for safety. The star shape, repurposed for war, remains a potent symbol of these intertwined human experiences.