Zu Düren 1664

Wenceslaus Hollar created this etching, "Zu Düren," in 1634, capturing a scene of the town of Düren during a time of immense upheaval in Europe. The work gives us a glimpse into the landscape of a region deeply affected by the Thirty Years' War, a conflict driven by religious and political tensions that ravaged much of Central Europe. Hollar himself experienced the dislocations of this era, fleeing his native Bohemia due to religious persecution and spending much of his life displaced. In "Zu Düren," the imposing architecture and fortifications stand as silent witnesses to the strife and resilience of communities caught in the crossfire. What stories do these stones tell? What anxieties and hopes did they harbor for those who lived within their walls? Through Hollar's eyes, we contemplate the emotional and material impact of conflict on identity, place, and memory.