Massacre of the Innocents c. 1540 - 1565

Nicolas Beatrizet created this print, *Massacre of the Innocents*, during the mid-16th century, a period marked by religious conflict and political upheaval in Europe. Beatrizet, working in this climate, engages with a biblical narrative fraught with themes of power, persecution, and resistance. In this chaotic scene depicting King Herod's infanticide, Beatrizet’s figures embody the anxieties of his time. The exaggerated musculature of the soldiers contrasts with the vulnerability of the mothers and children, laying bare the violence enacted upon the powerless. Beatrizet employs a visual language that reflects the period's obsession with classical ideals, while also subverting them to depict a scene of brutal injustice. Such depictions raise questions about the role of motherhood, the sanctity of life, and the abuse of authority. The emotional depth conveyed through the figures' expressions invites us to reflect on the human cost of political and religious conflict. Beatrizet doesn't just illustrate a biblical story; he creates a mirror reflecting the turbulent world around him.