Verovering van het kasteel van Milaan, 1707 1712 - 1715

Curator: Look at the dynamism of this Baroque piece! Before us we have an engraving made between 1712 and 1715, titled "Verovering van het kasteel van Milaan, 1707" (Conquest of the Castle of Milan, 1707), created by Johann August Corvinus. The Rijksmuseum houses this ink and pen drawing. Editor: It strikes me first as quite dense; the central image, of course, depicts the castle being conquered, yet there’s this incredibly ornate frame obscuring and framing the subject all at once. A paradox. Curator: Paradox perhaps embodies much of art history, don’t you think? Think about how warfare was represented through these visual projects! Notice, in this print, how text flanks the composition, as if to legitimate a version of history, just as the inclusion of battle plans seems to validate military authority. It is history as viewed through propaganda. Editor: Absolutely, there is no doubt in my mind about it. So, how would one unpack this piece through the lens of today’s socio-political frameworks? It raises questions of colonial legacies, the power dynamics embedded in the depiction of war. Curator: Consider, also, the almost absurd level of detail applied to rendering military weaponry, uniforms, etc. We might interpret such ornamentation in conjunction with an analysis of the visual construction of masculine authority and martial prowess. One could easily situate this imagery within contemporary dialogues on the weaponization of historical memory. Editor: It is intriguing how these battle scenes, often glorifying violence, functioned as both documentation and justification for those exercising power. This calls for analysis from feminist theories and cultural studies, considering gendered power roles during wartime, who dictates which lives matter and what their social function might be. Curator: Precisely. By placing this Baroque print within these contemporary perspectives, we illuminate its continuing relevance and impact, enriching dialogues about representation, war, and identity. Editor: Agreed, this image, dense with details of conquest, continues to inspire conversation—across history, media studies, and critical cultural inquiry. I wonder what kind of similar images will inspire our conversations 300 years from now?