Vlakdecoratie, bestaande uit een wapentrofee 1572

This engraving of a war trophy was made by Johannes or Lucas van Doetechum, two members of a prolific family of printmakers in the Netherlands. Here we see a display of instruments of war. Cannons, spears, and other projectiles are arranged for maximum impact. In the Dutch Republic of the 16th and 17th centuries, such images would have been used to celebrate military victories, but they were also common tropes in emblem books and other visual and literary forms. It is interesting to consider how these images participated in the creation of Dutch national identity and pride, especially during the Eighty Years’ War with Spain. Visual codes are crucial here. The arrangement is designed to convey a sense of order and control over the instruments of war. It also makes war look glorious. To understand this image better, it's necessary to explore both the history of Dutch printmaking and the political context of the 17th century.