Brief over de geseling van de Leidse bakker Adriaan Trago, 1784 1784

Curator: This intriguing piece, dating back to 1784, is titled "Brief over de geseling van de Leidse bakker Adriaan Trago," or "Letter About the Flogging of the Baker Adriaan Trago from Leiden." It's a printed document, likely on paper, and details a public punishment. Editor: It strikes me as a chilling artifact. The typography feels severe and cold, mirroring the grim news it conveys. Just seeing the block of text, knowing it spells out violence sanctioned by the state... it's disturbing. Curator: Indeed. These types of printed documents were common at the time. They served not only as news but also as public announcements of justice, meant to deter others. Consider the socio-political climate; this occurred during a period of unrest, with rising tensions between the Patriot and Orangist factions in the Dutch Republic. Editor: Exactly. And this public shaming, the flogging of Trago and others labeled "rioters," speaks volumes about the state's attempt to suppress dissent. Labeling them ‘rioters’ already creates a narrative. The mention of a young person, “een Jonge van 15 à 16 Jaaren”, punished along with adults really hammers home the power dynamics at play. Curator: The phrase "OPROERMAKER," meaning "rioter" or "rebel," written in large letters highlights how the authorities sought to define and demonize those who opposed them. It shows us that language and propaganda have always been a tool of power. Editor: And the detail about those forced to watch the punishment – a preacher, a woman, even children – it amplifies the cruelty. It was a deliberate act of intimidation meant to terrorize the whole community. To read such things, laid out so plainly, shows how commonplace injustice can become. Curator: Precisely. And the subsequent confinement in the "Spinhuis," a workhouse primarily for women deemed immoral, suggests an additional layer of social control and the punishments particularly directed at women. Editor: Looking at this today, it’s vital to understand not just what happened, but how these systems of power and control operated – and arguably continue to operate – through public shaming and narratives of state violence. Curator: Agreed. Examining the historical context embedded in this "Brief" helps us unpack the social anxieties and the role of justice systems during the period. Editor: It really does demonstrate how crucial it is to question the stories presented as truth and to challenge any attempt to silence dissent.