Grote kaart van het beleg van Namen (blad nr. 2), 1695 1695

Gilliam van der Gouwen made this print of the siege of Namur in 1695. It depicts the city as if from above, and as was common at the time, mingles cartographic information with allegory. This was a period of intense political and military conflict between France and an alliance of European powers, and the print celebrates William of Orange's successful recapture of the city of Namur. Note the lion, an animal associated with the Dutch Republic. The human figures refer to antiquity. The winged figure of Fame points to an inscription praising William, while another figure offers an olive branch. The print offers an idealised image of war. It's a propaganda piece, designed to shore up support for the regime. Historical research into the print's commission and distribution can reveal much about the role of imagery in shaping public opinion during times of conflict.