Plattegrond van Valenciennes, 1709 1709

Editor: So, this is a drawing called "Plattegrond van Valenciennes, 1709" by Jacobus Harrewijn. It’s a pen and ink cityscape of Valenciennes. It's incredibly detailed. I’m curious, what stands out to you in this piece? Curator: What I see is a visual manifestation of power, control, and the violent realities of the early 18th century. The rigid geometric shapes aren’t just aesthetically pleasing, but a calculated effort to visualize military strategy and territorial domination. Notice the fortifications. They speak volumes about the anxieties of the era. Editor: I see the star shape around the city, like it's ready for anything. How does the cityscape aspect play into this? Curator: Well, consider the cityscape itself. How does the depiction of urban space serve the interests of the ruling class? It presents an idealized, organized view of Valenciennes, carefully omitting the social inequalities and potential unrest brewing within those walls. The map becomes an instrument of power. Where would ordinary citizens be within that geometry? Editor: They are rendered invisible in the image... It’s as if the city exists solely as a military object. It definitely shifts my understanding. It is powerful how it relates to gender. Curator: Absolutely. What is often overlooked is that warfare and territorial control are often hyper-masculine domains, directly affecting women and other marginalized groups who experience conflict differently. This image normalizes those power structures. How does thinking about this map in terms of the stories *not* told change how you see it? Editor: I'm starting to think about how many lives this map influenced and the history that unfolds within those lines. Thanks! Curator: Precisely. Let’s remember that behind every stroke of the pen, there are complex human stories shaped by political and social forces. It pushes us to look critically at the dominant narratives perpetuated through art.