Illustratie voor 'Den Arbeid van Mars' van Allain Manesson Mallet 1672

This is an illustration of the siege of Grave, made by Romeyn de Hooghe, a Dutch artist, in the late 17th century. It was created as a visual aid for Allain Manesson Mallet's book, 'The Labors of Mars,' a treatise on military engineering and strategy. De Hooghe's image provides a bird's-eye view of Grave, a strategically important town, during a military siege. The elaborate fortifications, river, and surrounding landscape are rendered with precision, reflecting the growing importance of cartography in military planning during this period. This print offers insight into the institutional history of military science and the Dutch Republic's role in the European conflicts of the time. The image is less a work of individual artistic expression and more a contribution to the military-industrial complex. To truly understand this illustration, we need to consult military archives, historical maps, and texts on siege warfare. The meaning of this artwork lies in its social and institutional context.