Beleg van Coevorden door Maurits, 1592 1592 - 1594

This is Frans Hogenberg’s “Siege of Coevorden by Maurits,” made in 1592. Hogenberg was a Flemish engraver known for his historical and topographical prints, often depicting events from the Eighty Years’ War. The print captures the siege of Coevorden, a pivotal moment in the Dutch struggle for independence from Spanish rule. What interests me is how Hogenberg uses the map-like composition to not only document the military strategies, but also to frame a narrative about power, resistance, and identity. The detailed rendering of soldiers, fortifications, and the surrounding landscape invites us to consider the human element within these large scale conflicts. How do we reconcile the supposed glory of battle with the inevitable violence and loss it entails? The image serves as a historical record. Yet it also reminds us of the ever-present tensions between those who seek to dominate and those who fight to maintain their autonomy.