Twee verzen op de dood van Johan en Cornelis de Witt, 1672 1672

This broadside engraving by Willem Tichelaer commemorates the gruesome 1672 murder of the De Witt brothers. The image and text create meaning through cultural references and historical associations that would have been instantly recognizable to a 17th century Dutch audience. The verses invoke classical ideas of justice and civic virtue, while simultaneously playing upon popular resentment towards the ruling elite. The artist comments on the political turmoil of his time and highlights a key event in Dutch history. The print illustrates the crucial role of civic institutions. Historians rely on a variety of sources to interpret artworks like this, from archival documents to pamphlets and popular literature, in order to understand the complex social and political contexts in which art is made and consumed. Ultimately, this print reminds us that the meaning of art is always contingent on its social and institutional context.