Bonn door Schenck voor Truchsess gewonnen, 1587 1613 - 1615

This etching, made in 1587 by an anonymous artist, depicts the capture of Bonn by Martin Schenck von Nydeggen for Gebhard Truchsess von Waldburg. The image showcases the military strategies and technologies of the late 16th century. Made in the Netherlands, during the early stages of the Eighty Years’ War, this print is a potent example of the politics of imagery. The war was both a struggle for independence and a religious conflict between the Protestant Dutch and the Catholic Spanish. The imagery idealizes war, obscuring the impact it had on real people and communities. To better understand the work, we need to know more about the figures involved in the conflict, as well as the role of propaganda in shaping public opinion during the war. Through careful investigation of these sources, we can better understand the print’s historical context and its meaning.