Ontzet van Arras, belegerd door de Spanjaarden (onderste rij, plaat 4), 1654 1655

Nicolas Cochin created this print in 1654, titled ‘Relief of Arras, besieged by the Spaniards’. It depicts a bird's-eye view of the siege, capturing the geopolitical tensions of 17th-century Europe. This print embodies the dynamics of power and conflict, reflecting the cultural and political landscape shaped by religious and territorial disputes. Cochin was part of a generation that lived through the trauma of the Thirty Years' War, the tensions between Catholics and Protestants and the instability that marked the early modern period. It is a vision of war as a chess game. Consider how the map reduces the human experience of war to mere data points. The print invites us to reflect on the narratives of power and resistance, echoing the voices of those marginalized in historical accounts. Through this artwork, we can explore the intricate connections between history, identity, and representation, while contemplating the legacy of conflict and resilience in shaping our world.