De inname van Emmerich door de Fransen op 10 juni 1672 1675 - 1699

This engraving, titled ‘De inname van Emmerich door de Fransen op 10 juni 1672’ [The capture of Emmerich by the French on June 10, 1672], shows a bird’s eye view of the French army entering Emmerich. The anonymous artist used etching to create a composition that is both detailed and formally structured. Notice how the landscape is divided into distinct horizontal layers. A cartouche at the base gives way to the French troops on the river bank. Above this the city is visible across the river, followed by the sky with swirling clouds. This is surmounted by another cartouche that includes a plan of the city. These layers create a clear hierarchy and spatial logic. The artist employs a limited tonal range, which emphasizes the linear qualities of the etching. The fine, precise lines create texture and depth, particularly in the depiction of the figures and the landscape, but also serve as a formal tool for structuring space and narrative. The scene thus balances the precision of cartography with the dynamism of historical narrative, reflecting the 17th-century interest in order and representation.