Burgemeester Hasselaar gekwetst, 1672 1779 - 1781

Simon Fokke made this drawing of Burgemeester Hasselaar gekwetst in the eighteenth century, but it depicts events from 1672. It presents the mayor of Haarlem, Johan Hasselaar, being injured during riots that took place in the Dutch Republic that year. Consider how the image creates meaning through its visual codes. Its cultural references and historical associations include the clothing of the figures and the architecture of the buildings. The Dutch Republic in 1672 was a fractured place, with complex social, political, and economic tensions leading to the events shown. By memorializing this moment, the artist seems to comment on the social structures of his time. The drawing reminds us of an episode of political violence and questions the stability of the state. As historians, we can look at the archives of Haarlem and other sources to better understand the events of 1672 and the meaning of this image. Through such research we can consider art as something that is contingent on social and institutional context.