Zelfmoord van Lucretia 1578 - 1580

Hendrick Goltzius captured the suicide of Lucretia in this engraving, a tale laden with moral symbolism. Central is Lucretia herself, her self-inflicted wound a stark emblem of lost honor. The dagger, poised mid-act, isn't merely a tool of death; it's a signifier of agency, a desperate attempt to reclaim control over her violated body. The surrounding figures, frozen in horror, underscore the profound shock and moral gravity of her act. We can find echoes of Lucretia's pose in countless subsequent works, from tragic heroines to martyred saints, each bearing the weight of irreversible decisions. Consider, too, the motif of the exposed breast, seen here, an emblem of both vulnerability and defiance. This potent mix of horror and resolve engages us on a deep, subconscious level. The image resonates because it touches upon the raw nerve of human dignity, forcing us to confront the complex interplay between personal agency and collective memory.