Vijfde plaat met de zeshoek in de vestingbouw, 1693 1693

This engraving from 1693, titled 'Vijfde plaat met de zeshoek in de vestingbouw,' presents a fortress design rendered with meticulous detail. The print, executed in stark black lines against a pale ground, immediately strikes one as a study in geometric precision and spatial logic. The hexagon, the base form of the fortress, extends outward into a complex array of bastions and angled walls. This rigid geometry speaks to the period's obsession with order and control, reflecting larger philosophical concerns about rationalizing space and power. The lines articulate not just physical structures but also a conceptual framework, suggesting a world view predicated on systems of defence. The act of mapping and diagramming was critical to the creation of knowledge, mirroring the era's emphasis on categorizing and understanding the world through scientific and mathematical principles. The engraving invites us to consider how such representations are not merely descriptive but constitutive, shaping the very realities they depict.