Willem van Arkel sneuvelt in de Krijtsteeg te Gorinchem, 1 december 1417 1786 - 1788

Jacobus Buys made this drawing depicting Willem van Arkel's death in 1724 using pen and brown ink, with a grey wash. The clash of swords and shields amidst the stark architecture evokes a sense of chaos. Consider the symbol of the raised sword. This gesture—a universal declaration of conflict—echoes through time, from ancient Roman battle reliefs to Renaissance depictions of biblical battles. It is a visual shorthand for the primal act of aggression. Notice how the shield, another recurring symbol of warfare, reappears. It represents not just physical defense but also psychological protection against the chaos of battle. The fallen body is not merely a depiction of death; it is a memento mori, reminding us of the ephemerality of life. This motif, present in countless artistic traditions, engages our deepest fears and anxieties. We see it repeated, transformed, in Goya's war scenes and even in modern photography. These symbols persist because they tap into our collective memory, engaging our subconscious and reminding us of the eternal dance between life and death.