Wachtendonk bezet door de Spanjaarden, 1603 1613 - 1615

This etching, made in 1603 by an anonymous artist, depicts Wachtendonk occupied by the Spaniards. Look closely and you'll see the town's fortifications, prominently displayed, echoing ancient Roman military camps, symbols of power and order. Yet, these ordered lines carry echoes of chaos and upheaval. Notice the imposing fortifications, symbols of Roman military might that stretch back through time. We see the same need for protection manifesting across different eras. Such structures resonate with mankind's primal instinct to defend against the unknown, an anxiety carried in our collective memory. This anxiety has played out time and again, as we find such fortifications re-emerging throughout history, each time tailored to new threats. The emotional weight of these structures lies in their dual nature: protection and confinement, order and the threat of chaos. Each era projects its fears onto these fortifications, as we struggle to secure ourselves against external threats and internal anxieties.