Onthoofding van Gosson te Atrecht, 1578 c. 1581 - 1585

Frans Hogenberg created this engraving titled 'Onthoofding van Gosson te Atrecht, 1578' around that same year. The composition is dominated by linear forms, from the rigid rows of houses in the background to the serried ranks of soldiers in the foreground. Hogenberg’s use of line is meticulous, defining the architecture and the human figures with equal precision. However, this precise rendering also serves a symbolic function. The geometric order of the built environment and the military formation stands in stark contrast to the chaos of the execution itself, underscoring the themes of power, control, and the suppression of dissent. In semiotic terms, the stage becomes a focal point, representing not just a physical platform but a stage for political theater. The act of beheading, rendered with graphic detail, is not merely a depiction of violence but a symbolic statement about the reach and ruthlessness of authority. The image invites viewers to contemplate the relationship between order and violence, spectacle and control, in the turbulent years of the late 16th century.