Slag bij Borgerhout, 1579 c. 1581 - 1585

This is Frans Hogenberg's engraving, "Slag bij Borgerhout, 1579". Notice how the landscape is meticulously divided into horizontal bands. This design lends itself to narrative clarity as it unfolds from the immediate foreground to the distant horizon, almost like the panels of a comic strip. The stark contrast between the intricate details of the battle and the serene backdrop creates a tension. It causes us to consider the relationship between the specific event and broader historical landscape. Hogenberg employs a dense network of lines to articulate every figure and object. It also imbues the scene with a frenetic energy. This print uses the semiotic language of its time to convey not just the events of a battle, but also the complex political and social structures at play. The act of viewing this piece becomes an exercise in decoding visual signs. It is a study in the use of spatial organization as a means of structuring meaning and historical narrative.