Eine Schlacht an einem Fluss, die eine Armee setzt auf Flößen über denselben 

Stefano della Bella created this ink drawing, Eine Schlacht an einem Fluss, die eine Armee setzt auf Flößen über denselben, sometime in the 17th century. Consider the artist's life during the Thirty Years' War, a conflict deeply rooted in religious and political divides. The detailed scene invites us to reflect on the nature of conflict and power, with the bird's-eye perspective and the army crossing a river, as if we, the viewers, have been given a strategic overview of an unfolding campaign. How might Bella, as an artist dependent on the patronage of those in power, navigate the complex political landscape of his time? He refrains from glorifying the violence of war. Instead, the use of ink creates a dream-like quality, evoking a sense of distance from the actual brutality, creating a narrative that is less about victory and more about the mechanics and movements of war. Ultimately, the drawing prompts us to think about the human cost of military campaigns. It asks us to question the glorification of war, and urges us to reflect on its deep, often invisible scars.