Man door vrouw met dolk neergestoken 1762

Simon Fokke etched "Man door vrouw met dolk neergestoken" around 1748, a print now held in the Rijksmuseum. The composition is carefully constructed: a theatrical tableau under a heavy, draped curtain, complete with classical architecture and statuary. The eye is drawn to the stark contrast between the prostrate figure in the foreground and the embrace between a woman and a man. This dramatic scene is observed by a crowd in the background, framed by an archway, which adds to the sense of depth and theatricality. The use of light and shadow, achieved through fine lines, accentuates the emotional tension. Fokke’s print engages with the semiotics of theater, using visual cues to suggest themes of betrayal and tragedy. The formal arrangement—the staging of figures, the architectural backdrop—serves not only as a setting but also as a framework for interpreting human drama, highlighting the performative aspects of emotion and the structured nature of storytelling itself.