Beleg en inname van Hulst door Maurits, 1591 1600 - 1610

Pieter Bast created this print of the Siege and Capture of Hulst by Maurice in 1591. It shows, from an aerial perspective, the siege of Hulst, in the present-day Netherlands, by the army of Prince Maurice of Orange during the Eighty Years' War. Prints like these played a key role in shaping public opinion and constructing national identities in early modern Europe. The detailed depiction of the siege, with its clear representation of military tactics, served not only as a historical record but also as propaganda, promoting the power and legitimacy of the Dutch Republic. Hulst's capture was a strategic victory for the Dutch, contributing to their eventual independence from Spanish rule. The institutional context here is the Dutch Republic's struggle for self-determination, a movement that relied heavily on visual media to rally support. To better understand this artwork, we can consult historical archives, military records, and contemporary accounts to uncover the complex interplay of politics, religion, and warfare that defined the period.