Gezicht op het fort Vrana in Dalmatië, ca. 1702 1702 - 1703

This is an etching from around 1702, its artist remains anonymous, and it offers us a "View of the Vrana Fort in Dalmatia." Dalmatia, now part of Croatia, was then a contested space between the Ottoman and Venetian Empires, these empires deeply shaped the region's cultural and political identities. Consider how such a landscape becomes a site of shifting power dynamics. The depiction of Vrana, caught between empires, provokes questions about whose perspective is centered. Is this a portrayal of Venetian strength, a strategic overview for military planning, or something else? In these landscapes, identities were complex and layered, shaped by trade, conflict, and cultural exchange. While the artist remains unknown, their work invites us to reflect on the diverse experiences of those who lived, fought, and built lives in a world shaped by imperial ambitions. How does this image make you feel, knowing it captures a place of both beauty and constant conflict?