Aanval op de Duivendrechtse brug, 1787 1790

Theodoor Koning's "Attack on the Duivendrecht Bridge, 1787" presents a scene of conflict rendered in delicate lines, with a monochromatic palette that mutes the violence it depicts. The composition is divided, with the left side dominated by the imposing structure of a mill and the right side by the bridge and distant buildings, framing the skirmish in the center. Koning uses line and form to narrate the event; precise etching defines the architecture, the military formations, and the natural landscape, creating a sense of order within the chaos. The sky, filled with meticulously rendered clouds, adds a layer of depth, contrasting with the rigid geometry of the buildings and the human activity below. This print not only documents a historical event but also engages with the visual rhetoric of power. The strategic arrangement of elements—the solid structures versus the fluid movement of troops—suggests a commentary on the tensions between order and conflict, control and resistance. The visual language employed by Koning provides a lens through which to examine the socio-political landscape of the time.