Kaart van de slag bij Oudenaarde, 1708 1708 - 1729

This is an anonymous map, made in 1708, of the Battle of Oudenaarde. Look closely, and you'll see it's an engraving, meaning it was made by carefully cutting lines into a metal plate, inking it, and then pressing paper against it. The map shows a pivotal moment in the War of the Spanish Succession, when allied forces decisively defeated the French. But, of course, this wasn't just about lines on a map. Think of the labor behind this image: the engraver meticulously cutting details, the papermaker, the printer, and the person who bound it into a book. Each step required skill, time, and a complex supply chain. The use of precise lines and symbols elevated mapmaking to an art, while also serving strategic military purposes. Ultimately, this map connects artistic skill with power. The act of creating such a detailed record reinforced the authority of those who commissioned it, transforming a battlefield into a carefully controlled representation of victory. Appreciating this image is about recognizing the human effort and social context embedded within its lines.