Oorlogsvoertuigen 1652 - 1707

Gérard Edelinck made this print, "Oorlogsvoertuigen," or "War Vehicles," in the Netherlands sometime in the late 17th century. It depicts a series of imagined war machines alongside a traditional fortification. Edelinck was a leading printmaker during a time when the Dutch Republic was a major military and economic power. But the image isn't simply a celebration of Dutch power. It asks us to consider the changing nature of warfare during this period, the relationship between technological advancement and military strategy. Notice the contrast between the traditional castle walls and the speculative design of the war machines. This wasn't just about technological advancement, but about how those changes could be implemented by military institutions. The study of prints and other images, alongside archival material, like military records and state papers can help us to understand how the Dutch Republic saw itself, and its place in the world.