Bombardement van Dieppe door de Geallieerden, 1694 1694

Editor: Here we have "Bombardement van Dieppe door de Geallieerden, 1694," an engraving by Pieter van den Berge from... well, 1694. The chaos! It's quite busy, dark and... violent. What jumps out at you when you look at this, almost theatrical scene? Curator: The sky *is* full of fireworks, isn't it? A terrible sort of performance, etching the fleetingness of power. I can’t help but be struck by the drama, that potent concoction of fear and awe that war seems so disturbingly capable of inspiring. This bird's eye perspective feels incredibly staged, even propagandistic, and highlights the alleged triumph over Dieppe. Notice the plume of smoke rising into the sky--the fire has engulfed most of the city and fills the horizon. What do you suppose that was like for the inhabitants? Editor: It's interesting that you see it as staged, like it’s all for show. It does feel very performative, not just descriptive. Do you think the artist, van den Berge, felt conflicted about depicting something so destructive? Curator: That's the question, isn't it? Maybe the artist was trying to grapple with their role in representing conflict. What purpose does documenting violence like this serve, other than to celebrate victory? Did they see themselves as merely a recorder or something more? Editor: Maybe he wanted to showcase the intensity and what he witnessed without necessarily taking a side. Thanks, this makes me reflect more on how artists and artisans processed information and recorded what happened. It sounds like something relevant in today's world too. Curator: Exactly. History isn't always so neat and tidy, and looking back can give us perspective as to where we want to go.