Beleg van Huy, 1705 1735

This detailed rendering of the Siege of Huy in 1705 was made by an anonymous artist. During this period, the city of Huy, in modern-day Belgium, was under siege as part of the larger War of the Spanish Succession. The print depicts a bird's-eye view of the siege, illustrating the strategic importance of location during war. Through this anonymous depiction of war, we are given an insight into the political climate and social structure of the 18th century. The clean lines and attention to detail presents an almost clinical observation of the siege. It invites us to consider how acts of war are recorded and remembered and the impact of these historical events on the collective memory of a place and its people. Consider how cartography has been used to both document and manipulate our understanding of the world. How does this image reinforce or challenge the power dynamics inherent in representing conflict?