Beleg van Mons, 1709 1710

Jacobus Harrewijn’s 1709 engraving, depicts the siege of Mons, rendered with the precision of a cartographer and the eye of a historian. The most arresting element is the cluster of flags and weaponry in the foreground—symbols that speak volumes about power, conflict, and the theater of war. Flags, since antiquity, have been rallying points and declarations of allegiance, and their presence here evokes the emotional charge of battle, the fervor of nationalism, and the will to conquer. These motifs resonate across time, recalling the standards of Roman legions and the banners of medieval crusaders, all the way to modern-day national emblems. The image speaks to our collective memory, triggering a primal understanding of conflict and dominance. In a psychoanalytic sense, the aggressive display of weaponry can be viewed as a manifestation of collective anxieties and desires, reflecting the underlying psychological forces at play during times of war. These symbols take on new layers of meaning, showing us how we have continued to shape and reshape our understanding of power, conflict, and collective identity.