Gezicht op de vesting van Montmélian, 1726 1726

This anonymous print shows a bird’s-eye view of the fortified town of Montmélian, made in 1726. Here, the town and its fortifications appear as inseparable from the natural landscape of mountains and rivers. The print offers a sense of mastery over this landscape, which would have resonated with the military and political institutions of the Dutch Republic. Prints like these were often commissioned by military engineers to document the construction of fortifications, and to celebrate military victories. It speaks to the role of art as a tool of power, shaping perceptions of territory and control. Understanding this print involves looking into archives of military history, engineering drawings, and political records. By doing so, we can begin to appreciate how this image reflects the social and institutional forces at play in the 18th century.