Beleg van Zutphen, 1584 c. 1587 - 1591

Frans Hogenberg created this print, titled 'Beleg van Zutphen, 1584' or 'Siege of Zutphen, 1584'. This print offers a bird's-eye view of Zutphen during its siege, an event that occurred during the Eighty Years' War, when the Dutch fought for independence from Spanish rule. Hogenberg’s detailed depiction of the siege underscores the intense political and religious conflicts of the 16th century. His perspective is interesting: while seeming to offer a neutral, documentary view, it implicitly acknowledges the experiences of those directly affected by the war—the inhabitants of Zutphen, the soldiers, and the countless unnamed individuals whose lives were upended by the conflict. The detailed rendering invites a reflection on the enduring human cost of conflict and the narratives that shape our understanding of history.