Aanslag op de predikant J.H. François in de Waalse Kerk / Onrust bij de Waalse Kerk na de aanslag, 1755 1755 - 1756

Simon Fokke's print from 1755, depicts the turmoil following the attack on J.H. François in the Walloon Church. The dominant symbol here is the act of desecration within a sacred space, a violation of the church's sanctity, reflecting deep social and religious tensions. This motif of defilement echoes through art history. Recall the Roman soldiers mocking Christ, or iconoclasts destroying religious images, each act a potent display of power and ideological conflict. Here, the collective frenzy suggests not just disagreement but a primal urge to dismantle established order. Consider how such scenes tap into our collective memory. Churches are meant to be places of safety. The riot we see conveys intense emotional states, fear, outrage, and a breakdown of social norms. These historical echoes highlight the cyclical nature of conflict, as old grievances resurface, cloaked in new forms.