Moord door de Spanjaarden in de straten van Naarden, 1572 1658 - 1660

Jan van Troyen created this print, “Massacre by the Spaniards in the Streets of Naarden, 1572,” sometime in the mid-17th century. It depicts a harrowing event from the early years of the Eighty Years' War, a conflict rooted in religious and political tensions between the Netherlands and Spain. In this print, van Troyen doesn’t just show us a historical event; he invites us to reflect on the human cost of conflict. Bodies litter the ground as Spanish soldiers wreak havoc, and the artist captures the terror of the townspeople. A woman kneels, pleading for mercy, in a scene filled with violence and despair. The image doesn't shy away from showing the brutality of the scene, with a body hanging from a window serving as a stark reminder of the loss of life. Van Troyen made this print nearly a century after the events it depicts. It offers a window into the collective memory of the Dutch people, a reminder of their struggle for independence and religious freedom. The print underscores the complexities of identity, resistance, and the legacies of violence.