Inname van Delfzijl door Maurits, 1591 1591 - 1593

This is Frans Hogenberg’s etching ‘Inname van Delfzijl door Maurits, 1591’. It depicts the siege of Delfzijl in the Netherlands. Engravings like this one were very popular at the time, bringing images of war and conquest to a broad audience. What stories did these images tell, and whose perspectives were elevated? Notice how the image centres on military action, but what about the residents of Delfzijl? What were their experiences of this siege? This artwork shows an important clash in the Eighty Years' War, a conflict deeply intertwined with religious and political identity. The Dutch, seeking independence from Spanish rule, fought to establish their own cultural and religious norms. Hogenberg’s detailed work immortalizes a pivotal moment in their struggle for self-determination. Consider the role of art in shaping national identity and collective memory, and the stories that often remain untold.