Gezicht op Namen en de citadel (plaat 2) 1697

Bernard Picart created this print depicting the Siege of Namur. Note the dominant visual symbols of warfare and fortification, where the citadel looms large, a testament to military might. These symbols are not confined to Picart’s time; fortifications have appeared since antiquity, serving as a potent reminder of human conflict. Think of the walls of Jericho or the Roman castra—each iteration tells a story of defense, power, and human ambition. Even today, walls and barriers resonate with subconscious meanings related to safety and exclusion. The emotional weight of this scene is profound. Observe the billowing smoke and the meticulously rendered siege lines, capturing not only the physical aspects of the battle but also the psychological impact of war. Just as smoke signals once carried urgent messages, here it conveys the chaos and intensity of conflict, engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level. This motif has resurfaced, evolved, and taken on new meanings in different historical contexts, demonstrating the cyclical nature of our collective memory.