Bonn door Schenck voor Truchsess gewonnen, 1587 1587 - 1589

This engraving by Frans Hogenberg depicts the siege of Bonn in 1587, capturing a pivotal moment during the Cologne War. The walls of Bonn stand as a stark symbol of division, a barrier breached by conflict. Observe how the act of scaling the walls—a motif resonant with the ancient imagery of the "storming of the heavens"—echoes in the narratives of conquerors from antiquity to medieval tapestries. Think of the Tower of Babel, or Titans trying to reach Olympus. This reaching upward is a recurring drama of human ambition and its consequences. The psychological weight of such images is profound. These walls and towers, symbols of security, are now battlegrounds. The subconscious yearnings for stability are violently confronted with the chaos of war. This print thus becomes a mirror, reflecting not just historical events, but also the timeless struggle between order and disorder, security and fear.