De doodskist van Ledenberg wordt aan de galg gehangen, 1619 1619

Editor: This engraving by Claes Jansz. Visscher, made in 1619, is titled "De doodskist van Ledenberg wordt aan de galg gehangen"—"The coffin of Ledenberg hung on the gallows." It’s incredibly detailed. The crowd scenes are really something. It's somber, but there's also a detached feeling, like a news report from a turbulent time. What grabs you when you look at this, from a curatorial perspective? Curator: Oh, that detached feeling is spot on, isn’t it? It reminds me a bit of courtroom sketches – this isn’t about grief, it’s about making a point. What you're seeing is more than just an execution. The act of hanging the coffin, not the body, of Gilles van Ledenberg, a man who had already died in prison awaiting trial, shows you the lengths to which authorities went to punish perceived traitors. Do you get a sense of the statement being made, despite the physical absence? Editor: Absolutely, it’s chilling. So, hanging the coffin... almost like a symbolic extension of punishment beyond death? A way to send a message. Curator: Exactly! And look at how Visscher contrasts the dramatic, teeming scene of the hanging with that almost clinical depiction of Loevestein Castle down below. The coldness of the castle as this silent, implacable witness. Do you think that contrast enhances that chilling effect? Editor: Yes, the stark contrast between the busy scene above and the quiet landscape really emphasizes the calculated nature of the act. Thanks, it brings new depth to this grim historical image. Curator: My pleasure. It’s these unsettling little glimpses into history that keep me hooked, and hopefully will continue to inspire the same intrigue in viewers.