Schouwburg van den oorlog (blad XXXIIIb): Het vestingbouwspel, ca. 1700-1710 1709 - 1710

Pieter Schenk created this engraving titled ‘The Fortress Building Game’ around 1700, now held at the Rijksmuseum. The print is predominantly sepia, with a grid-like structure that suggests a game board, filled with architectural drawings and explanatory texts. This ordered composition gives a sense of methodical instruction, yet the subject—fortress construction—hints at the underlying chaos and strategy of warfare. The lines and geometric forms create a sense of precision and control. The artist employs visual elements that invite us to consider the relationship between order and conflict. Each square is a node in a network of strategic possibilities, reflecting the 18th-century fascination with systems and their application to military endeavors. Schenk uses the game format to invite viewers to engage actively with military planning. The work destabilizes the traditional role of the passive observer by turning the act of viewing into a form of strategic thinking. This interplay between artistic form and strategic content challenges viewers to consider how design influences the dynamics of power and conflict.