Plattegrond van Montauban 1638

This is an anonymous, undated map of Montauban, rendered with ink and watercolor on paper. Montauban, a city in southwestern France, was a Protestant stronghold during the French Wars of Religion, a period of intense conflict between Catholics and Protestants. Consider how urban planning and cartography were historically instruments of power. Maps were not just neutral depictions of space; they were tools used to claim territory and exert control. During the religious wars, maps like this one could have served strategic purposes, aiding in defense or attack. The choice of pink and green hues, set within a yellow border, gives the city a surreal, dreamlike quality. The representation of Montauban in this manner, whether intentional or not, evokes a sense of longing for harmony in a time marked by religious division. While seemingly a simple depiction, the map invites us to reflect on how places become entangled with identity, belief, and the struggle for power. It reminds us that even the most cartographic representations can be charged with profound emotional and historical weight.