De schipbrug in de Schelde, 1585 1649 - 1651

This anonymous engraving, titled "De schipbrug in de Schelde, 1585" (The Ship Bridge in the Scheldt, 1585), depicts a temporary bridge over the Scheldt River in Antwerp. The bridge, built in 1585 during the Eighty Years’ War, was made of ships anchored together. The artist, who remains unknown, created the engraving between 1649 and 1651. The detailed image provides a glimpse into the innovative engineering of the time, as well as the strategic importance of the Scheldt River during wartime. The engraving, now in the Rijksmuseum, offers a valuable historical perspective on the engineering and defense strategies of the Dutch Golden Age.