Slag bij Hardenberg, 1580 c. 1581 - 1585

Frans Hogenberg’s engraving captures the Battle of Hardenberg in 1580, a landscape teeming with conflict. The organized chaos of warfare is depicted with infantry squares and cavalry charges. The image is dominated by the clash of men and horses; the motif echoes through time, recalling the ancient Greek friezes of centaurs battling Lapiths. This scene reminds us of humanity's enduring fascination with conflict, where man and beast unite in a dance of dominance. The psychological impact of such imagery cannot be understated. It appeals to primal instincts, invoking both fear and a strange sense of exhilaration. The symbol of battle, of struggle, and of victory, continues to resurface in different forms, a constant reminder of the cyclical nature of history. The image has evolved, each time carrying the weight of past struggles.