Mislukte aanval op Antwerpen, 1605 1605 - 1607

Frans Hogenberg created this print of the failed attack on Antwerp in 1605. The image captures a moment in the Eighty Years' War, a conflict with deep social and political roots. Made in the Netherlands, this print illustrates the failed attempt by the Dutch to besiege Antwerp, then under Spanish control. Hogenberg uses a bird's-eye view, a common visual strategy at the time, to show the city's defenses and the disposition of troops and ships. Note how this perspective flattens the terrain, turning the landscape into a kind of strategic map. The inclusion of a crowd of onlookers in the foreground suggests a public keenly aware of these events. Prints like these played a vital role in shaping public opinion and national identity during this turbulent period. To fully understand this image, we need to explore Dutch and Spanish archives, military histories, and the popular press of the time. The meaning of this image lies in understanding its social and institutional context.