Plattegrond van Sedan, ca. 1702 1702 - 1703

This is an anonymous plan of Sedan, made around 1702. Note how the city is tightly embraced by its elaborate fortifications, a common sight in early modern Europe where city walls were both a symbol of power and a necessity for defense. The star-shaped layout, with its bastions and moats, is not merely practical; it’s a forceful expression of human control over the landscape. Such star-shaped fortifications can be traced back to the Italian Renaissance, where the need to resist cannon fire led to the evolution of city defenses. Yet, even earlier, similar geometric patterns appear in ancient diagrams and cosmological maps. This brings to mind the labyrinthine designs of ancient Crete, where the maze served both to protect and to confuse, echoing the protective intent of Sedan’s walls. The act of mapping itself carries deep psychological weight. To chart and delineate space is to assert dominion, capturing the collective aspirations and anxieties of a people within lines and angles. The city, like a dream, becomes a projection of the inner self, fortified against the perceived threats of the outside world. And so, we see the motif of the fortified city, continuously resurfacing, evolving, and taking on new meanings across time.