Luik gebombardeerd door de Fransen, 1692 1695

Editor: This etching, "Luik gebombardeerd door de Fransen, 1692" from 1695, depicts the city of Liège under bombardment. The sheer density of figures and plumes of smoke create an immediate sense of chaos. How do you interpret this work? Curator: Immediately, I see this not just as a historical record, but as a stark commentary on the brutal realities of power and conflict. The Baroque period, though known for its grandeur, was built upon intense social and political upheaval. Consider the inscription, it clearly states that the city of Liège has been bombarded, the text itself is politically loaded, suggesting the violence inherent in nation-state building and the human cost often omitted from celebratory historical narratives. Editor: I hadn’t considered that the text itself was part of the story. Curator: Absolutely. And notice the strategic placement of the figures – the apparent nobility to the left seem removed, almost observers to the devastation, creating a visual hierarchy which implicates their culpability in the suffering. Who benefits from war? The artist here seems less interested in glorifying military achievement than in indicting those who wield power callously. Does this reading resonate with you? Editor: It does. Thinking about it in terms of power structures shifts the way I see the whole image. The seemingly objective record becomes a powerful statement. Curator: Exactly. By interrogating these seemingly straightforward historical depictions, we can uncover their implicit biases and connect them to contemporary issues of conflict, displacement, and the enduring impact of political decisions on everyday lives. This becomes a powerful statement against dominant power structures and the voiceless people on the recieving end of it. Editor: I'm going to pay much closer attention to historical context from now on! Thank you!