Plattegrond van de vestingstad Tönning 1735

This is an anonymous, undated, rendering of the Plattegrond van de vestingstad Tönning, likely made with ink and watercolour. Here, the map serves as a stark reminder of a time when geographical knowledge was synonymous with political power and military strategy. What stories are omitted when the land is reduced to lines and shapes on a page? We are invited to consider how this representation of space might reflect and reinforce the social hierarchies of its time. The cherubic figures holding the banner on the left introduce a curious tension, perhaps alluding to a divine blessing on the city's defenses, or perhaps a somber acknowledgement of the lives at stake within those walls. What did it mean to live within such a structure? What were the implications of who could and couldn't access it? The detailed fortifications and armaments signal the ever-present threat of conflict and the resources poured into maintaining a stronghold. By showing us this, the map encourages us to reflect on how the concept of "security" is crafted, controlled, and experienced differently based on one's position within the social landscape.