I dug this one out of a deep pile of paper at the flea market, attracted at first simply by its crisp geometries. Closer inspection reveals waving flags and tiny firing cannons (with very nice tiny puffs of smoke) positioned along the wall of a fortress the toward the bottom of the engraving. The lines extending from each cannon represent cannon fire as it would hit oncoming armies, which are represented by the hatched horizontal bars. As so, as a whole, the engraving illustrates how the strategic positioning of cannons shown here would create a highly effective defense, with approaching armies literally caught in the crossfire of the moveable cannons. While I'm not especially into military history, I find it very beautiful formally, and also for the efficiency and efficacy of strategy it represents.
19 7/8" x 17 1/8", late 18th/very early 19th century I believe, and I believe either Dutch or German. The paper is watermarked GL. It is in very good condition, with old fold lines as evident; paper is very soft and they flatten out well. Shipped folded (as it was when I found it) unless otherwise requested.
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