Titelpagina voor Henrich Ruse, Versterckte Vesting, 1654 1654

Curator: This is the title page for Henrich Ruse's "Versterckte Vesting," or "Fortified Fortress," published in 1654. The engraving gives us a fascinating look into 17th-century military engineering. Editor: It's striking! The sheer amount of detail, crammed into one scene… almost overwhelming, like a visual assault course. It certainly captures the tension of the subject. Curator: Absolutely. Van Ruse was not just an engineer, but also a captain in the service of Amsterdam. He dedicated his life to the art of fortification, and this print functions as an advertisement for his expertise. Look how the cherubic figures are unfurling the banner which functions almost as a certificate to the various locations he has worked in. It shows how the violence of war would have pervaded Baroque life. Editor: I'm intrigued by the cartography. We have the engineers consulting maps and blueprints at the bottom, then that strange coat of arms depicting a layout of the stronghold itself! It almost suggests these elaborate defenses contain worlds within worlds, systems designed to control populations. Curator: Precisely. The layered composition leads our eye to the heart of military strategy: the planning, the building, and finally, the siege itself happening simultaneously. Notice all the different weaponry present! Editor: There's an undeniable masculine energy pervading the composition. Even those cherubs…are they supposed to symbolize something? A blessing upon conquest perhaps? It is very odd how comfortable violence became a commodity or a product. Curator: It's the Baroque style pushing that dramatic contrast, I believe. Light and shadow emphasizing the dynamism of both conflict and the new "science" of creating citadels. Also how history and power have to be performed. This cover advertises these two intertwined factors beautifully. Editor: This work brings forward so many contradictions. From cherubs celebrating war, to architects becoming a symbol of conflict, I don't think I will think about maps the same way again! Curator: Right? Van Ruse's print gives us pause, encouraging reflection on how closely linked human innovation can be with the creation of barriers.