Ontzet van Arras, belegerd door de Spanjaarden (bovenste rij, plaat 4), 1654 1655

Nicolas Cochin created this print in 1654, titled "Ontzet van Arras, belegerd door de Spanjaarden." Notice the division of the picture plane, separated horizontally between symbolic ornamentation at the top and a distant battle scene below. Cochin uses the print medium to create sharp contrasts between light and shadow, structuring the composition through linear precision. The upper register is crowded with emblems of war and heraldry, framing a low horizon in the middle ground where armies converge on horseback. The flatness of the landscape is cleverly emphasized by the artist’s high vantage point and the use of linear perspective, which shrinks the figures as they recede into the distance. The print operates through a language of signs; weaponry and flags stand for military power, while the layout itself—organized into distinct zones—suggests a structured, almost codified view of conflict. This structured vision may reflect a period grappling with attempts to rationalize and represent the chaos of war. Consider how Cochin’s formal choices contribute to the print’s semiotic system, turning a scene of battle into a carefully constructed statement.