Aanslag op Bergen op Zoom verijdeld, 1581 1613 - 1615

This engraving, titled *Aanslag op Bergen op Zoom verijdeld, 1581,* or *The Attack on Bergen op Zoom Thwarted, 1581,* was created in 1581 by an anonymous artist. It captures a moment in the Eighty Years' War, a conflict deeply rooted in religious and political tensions. The print depicts a failed assault on the city. We see a chaotic scene of soldiers clashing, a visual representation of a society divided by religious and political beliefs. What I find particularly striking is the emotional intensity conveyed through the crowded composition. The artist captures the desperation and violence of the conflict. This piece is not just about recording an event; it's about capturing the human experience of war, the fear, the struggle, and the loss. The artist leaves us to consider the broader implications of such conflicts on the identities and lives of ordinary people. It serves as a poignant reminder of the human cost of war and the enduring quest for freedom and self-determination.