Foltering met scherpe punten 1565 - 1630

Editor: This is "Torture with Sharp Points," an engraving by Antonio Tempesta, made sometime between 1565 and 1630. It’s currently housed in the Rijksmuseum. The image is, well, pretty brutal. A figure is being tortured as others look on. What strikes you most about it? Curator: It's gut-wrenching, isn't it? I mean, look at the graphic nature of it all – those menacing spikes scattered around. But also, the setting is fascinating, it reminds me of stagecraft. The building in the background – what’s that doing here? Almost like the violence is a spectacle, a drama playing out on the world stage. What do you make of it? Editor: It's interesting you mention stagecraft, because the characters almost feel posed. Frozen in the act. Curator: Exactly! It speaks volumes about power, doesn’t it? Tempesta captures not just the physical suffering but the psychological weight. It’s not merely a depiction of pain; it’s an inquiry into the mechanics of cruelty. Now, do you think the architectural setting provides some clues about the commissioner or function of this print? Editor: That’s a really good question. I hadn’t considered that. Maybe someone religious wanting to show the horrors that people faced. Or a wealthy collector of morbid curiosities? Curator: Perhaps, or both intertwined! These images were often circulated, so it might have been intended to have many functions across diverse audiences. Editor: Thinking about that circulation – prints can have more impact than static paintings, because they could be taken everywhere! Thanks, I am now approaching these old prints very differently. Curator: Indeed. Sometimes, the most disturbing art challenges us to see more clearly, don't you think?