Verovering van Bergen, 1709 1709

Pieter Schenk’s etching, "Verovering van Bergen, 1709," now at the Rijksmuseum, meticulously maps the siege of Bergen. Dominating the composition is the fortified city, encircled by star-shaped bastions. These bastions, a symbol of military prowess in the 18th century, recall the ancient Roman castrum, embodying the desire to impose order upon chaos. Note how the compass rose in the upper-left, a Renaissance emblem of exploration and dominion, presides over this cartographic theater of war. This symbol echoes maps from the Age of Discovery, reflecting how territorial acquisition was often framed as a rational, even scientific, endeavor. The star-shaped fortresses, with their labyrinthine moats and angled walls designed to deflect cannon fire, share a likeness with mandalas—complex geometric figures used in religious practices. This likeness reminds us of the deeply ingrained human impulse to find symmetry in chaos, be it on the battlefield or in the soul. The emotional power lies in the visual tension between the precision of the map and the violent realities it represents. The patterns we create, though ostensibly rational, are often shadowed by the subconscious, a constant push and pull.