Kaart van Brussel met fortificaties 1690 - 1695

Editor: Here we have "Map of Brussels with fortifications," an ink drawing on paper from around 1690, by H. van Loon. It’s fascinating, almost looks like a celestial plan with all the radiating lines. What strikes you most about this piece? Curator: For me, it’s the vulnerability masked as power. Look at the baroque fortifications, these star-shaped fortresses painstakingly rendered. It suggests a need for control, a fear of being encroached upon. But the fragile paper, the delicate lines… they hint at the impermanence of such defenses, don't you think? Editor: I hadn’t considered the material fragility in contrast to the strength implied by the city's defenses. Is that a typical theme for cityscapes from this era? Curator: Oh, absolutely! It’s a dance between ambition and anxiety. This wasn’t just about mapping a location; it was about projecting power, solidifying identity in a volatile world. Think about how much the lines of ink are so meticulously planned and executed in comparison to the real world that I am sure was hectic and sprawling. A touch melancholic too, perhaps, don’t you think? The artist has captured more than city infrastructure on paper. Editor: Yes, there's something melancholic. Like a carefully constructed sandcastle awaiting the tide. Thank you for pointing that out, I wouldn't have seen it that way at first! Curator: The joy of art! It reflects back at us what we bring to it, illuminating both the subject and ourselves.