Aanval van de Franse op de linie bij Stollhofen, 1703 1703 - 1729

This anonymous print depicts the ‘Aanval van de Franse op de linie bij Stollhofen’ from 1703. The linear composition, etched into the paper, meticulously details the landscape, its strategic lines and the unfolding attack. The stark monochrome and precise lines create a sense of clinical observation, yet the chaotic arrangement of topographical elements hints at the violent encounter. Notice how the lines both define and divide the space, creating a tension between order and disruption. The map imposes a structure onto the landscape, reflecting a desire to control and understand it through rational means. However, this sense of control is subverted by the scene's inherent violence. The print challenges the notion of a stable, knowable world. It invites us to consider how systems of representation intersect with the unpredictable realities of conflict and power.