Illustratie voor 'Den Arbeid van Mars' van Allain Manesson Mallet 1672

This illustration for Allain Manesson Mallet’s 'Den Arbeid van Mars’ was created by Romeyn de Hooghe in the late 17th to early 18th century. It reflects a period defined by military expansion and sophisticated fortification. Here, the detailed bird's-eye view of a fortress contrasts sharply with the romanticized depiction of a palatial building below. De Hooghe places side by side the calculated strategy of warfare with the architectural symbols of wealth and power. The upper part of the illustration is inscribed with ‘Construction de l’Autheur’, and provides a rational and geometrical approach to the building of fortresses. While the lower half depicts a romanticized landscape that stands as a stark reminder of the human cost often hidden behind military endeavors. The illustration invites us to consider the relationship between the exercise of power, and the impact of architectural and military structures. In many ways, it speaks to the societal hierarchies that defined that era, and continue to resonate today.