Allegorie op de afbraak van de citadel te Antwerpen, 1577 1577

This 1577 engraving by Jacques de Gheyn the Elder, titled "Allegorie op de afbraak van de citadel te Antwerpen," depicts the demolition of the Citadel of Antwerp, a key moment in the Eighty Years' War. The print features a detailed view of the Citadel, with soldiers working to dismantle it, while allegories on either side symbolize the conflict. On one side, Justice holds a scale, representing the Spanish king’s rule; on the other, a figure represents the struggle of the Dutch. The complex scene conveys the political and religious tensions of the time and the significance of this event in the Dutch fight for independence.