Legerkamp van Spinola voor Ruhrort, 1605 1605 - 1607

This engraving, ‘Legerkamp van Spinola voor Ruhrort’, was created around 1605 by Frans Hogenberg. It presents a bird's-eye view of a military encampment, using line and form to create a detailed, almost map-like composition. The artwork is structured around the river, which bisects the scene, and establishes two distinct areas of military activity. Ruhrort, on the left, faces Duisburg on the right. Hogenberg uses a semiotic system of signs to depict soldiers, fortifications, and ships, each element rendered with meticulous detail. Consider how Hogenberg employs line to define the various components of the scene – from the rigid structures of the encampments to the flowing lines of the river. This calculated approach challenges conventional perspectives by presenting a comprehensive overview that emphasizes strategic layout over naturalistic representation. It is an analytical take on how power and space are organized.