Beleg van fort Mardijk, 1645 1645

Claes Jansz. Visscher’s engraving, "Siege of Fort Mardijk, 1645," presents a compelling interplay of space and power. The composition is divided into distinct horizontal registers, each offering a different perspective on the siege. The top shows a telescopic view of the fort and the middle shows the ships approaching. The bottom register shows the siege and surrounding areas from the point of view of an aerial map. Visscher employs a bird's-eye view, flattening the landscape, but also giving a sense of the scale of the siege. This perspective transforms the landscape into a structured field of strategic importance. The lines of fortifications and troop movements create a visual language of control and resistance. The contrast between the detailed rendering of the fort and the more schematic depiction of the surrounding areas invites us to consider the relationships between place, power, and representation in times of conflict. It also emphasizes the importance of cartography as a tool for asserting territorial claims.