Oorlogstrofeeën c. 1572 - 1585

Curator: Here we have “War Trophies,” or "Oorlogstrofeeën" as it was originally titled, a print by an anonymous artist, dating back to somewhere between 1572 and 1585. It’s a detailed engraving offering quite the visual statement about the spoils and spectacle of war. Editor: It has this dreamlike quality, don't you think? The lines are so precise, yet the scene is utterly surreal – like a pageant of victory, but one tinged with a haunting quiet. There's something quite disarming, perhaps even alluring, in its almost grotesque celebration. Curator: Absolutely. Looking at it through a critical lens, we can unpack layers of socio-political messaging typical of Renaissance war imagery. It draws on classical and biblical history, reflecting prevailing attitudes toward military prowess and the power structures that underpin conflict, specifically as it related to colonial expansion. The juxtaposition of classical forms with, shall we say, more macabre details tells a story about the normalization of violence. Editor: It strikes me that war itself is rendered so coldly beautiful, and I am not sure how to deal with it! All this skill and precision poured into something that… celebrates devastation? Perhaps it is to somehow help deal with the true reality of the events at the time? Curator: I'd argue that the allegorical approach and emphasis on idealized forms serve to sanitize the brutality of war, turning it into an almost abstract concept divorced from its human cost. We need to remember the context: the late Renaissance, rife with religious conflicts and burgeoning imperial ambitions. Editor: I see what you mean. Yet, despite its apparent distance from the grim reality, the work stays with you. I am sure it resonated with individuals in a deep, psychological level even in that era, echoing a tension of its own: awe versus revulsion. It certainly makes me wonder, and perhaps even re-think, about the way conflicts were dealt with during those turbulent times. Curator: Indeed. “War Trophies" invites us to think critically about how narratives of conflict are constructed and perpetuated, urging us to examine the historical and cultural forces that shape our perceptions of war. Editor: It reminds me to be both humbled and skeptical whenever someone is talking about, and much less showing, a victory. Let's hope it sticks.