Slag bij Ramillies, 1706 1706

Jacobus Harrewijn rendered this etching of the Battle of Ramillies in 1706. This plan provides more than just a cartographic rendering of space; it offers a glimpse into the psychological and emotional landscape of warfare. Note the careful arrangement of troop formations depicted as neat lines and blocks. These geometric shapes represent not just military units but also the imposition of order onto the chaos of battle. This recalls the ancient Roman practice of mapping conquered territories, turning the raw, untamed landscape into a symbol of control and power. Yet, even in this ordered depiction, there are psychological undercurrents at play. The rigid lines of troops might suggest a primal urge for control over unpredictable forces. The map becomes a way to manage anxiety about chaos, turning the terror of war into something comprehensible. Such depictions, like echoes of ancestral memories, continue to resurface, revealing our ongoing struggle to understand and manage our relationship with conflict and control.