Plattegronden van Verdun, Nancy, Clermont-Ferrand en Marsal, 1726 1726

These plans of Verdun, Nancy, Clermont-Ferrand, and Marsal were made in 1726 by an anonymous artist using engraving. The composition is neatly arranged with each city plan occupying a quadrant, offering a comparative study in urban fortification. Notice how the lines delineate complex geometric shapes, particularly the star-shaped fortresses that dominate each layout. This emphasis on form transcends mere cartography; it speaks to the era’s obsession with rational design and military strategy. The artist’s choice to render each city with meticulous detail reflects a period deeply invested in order and control. Semiotically, these plans function as signs of power, where the design of each city serves as a symbol of its defenses and strategic importance. Consider the visual language at play, these formal structures not only represent physical spaces but also communicate the intellectual and political values of the time. This engraving invites us to consider how art can operate as a form of coded communication.