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The Siege of Breda [plate 2 of 6]

Jacques Callot

1628

ink

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Baroque Baroque History Painting

Dominant colour

The Siege of Breda [plate 2 of 6] is a 1628 ink by Jacques Callot, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Jacques Callot
When & what style?: 1628 · Baroque
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This image is a detailed map-like drawing of a city under attack. You can see soldiers, forts, and trenches surrounding a walled city. The text at the top reads "Siege de Breda," and the scene is packed with tiny figures and labels marking positions. The artist used a scratchy, precise line style to show every detail, like a sketch made for strategy. This kind of drawing was likely used to record battles during the 1600s. Next, check out the technique: etching to see how artists like this made their marks.