Beleg van Namen, 1695 1695

This print, 'Beleg van Namen', was made in 1695 by Harmanus van Loon. The dominant process here is engraving, where lines are incised into a metal plate and then printed. While this was a traditional method for reproducing images at the time, it's important to recognize that it was deeply intertwined with the economic and political conditions of the era. The image captures the siege of Namur, and the work itself stands as a form of propaganda, designed to communicate power and control. Consider the labor involved, not just of the artist, but also the soldiers and workers who built and defended the fortifications depicted. Van Loon's print reduces this immense human effort to a neat, legible surface. The clean, precise lines of the engraving lend an air of authority, but they also flatten the chaos and brutality of war. By focusing on the materials and processes, we can see how this seemingly straightforward image participates in a much larger story of conflict, labor, and social control.