Kaart van de Zeventien Provinciën in de vorm van de Nederlandse leeuw 1656

This is Hessel Gerritsz’s copperplate engraving, *Kaart van de Zeventien Provinciën in de vorm van de Nederlandse leeuw*, which translates to ‘Map of the Seventeen Provinces in the shape of the Dutch Lion’. The composition presents a heraldic lion, its body meticulously formed by a map of the Seventeen Provinces. The lines of the map create a complex pattern of territories, each fitting within the contours of the animal. The engraver contrasts areas of dense, cross-hatched shading with open spaces, creating a play of light and shadow that accentuates the lion’s muscular form and fierce expression. The lion as a symbol projects power and vigilance, and the map functions as a strategic representation of land. The cartographic precision, combined with symbolic form, creates a powerful statement about the region’s identity and strategic importance. This reflects a desire for spatial understanding, and expresses identity and territorial ambition through symbolic imagery.