De moord op graaf Floris I, slapend onder een boom, 1061 1778 - 1795

Jacobus Buys created this small drawing, "The Murder of Count Floris I, Sleeping Under a Tree, 1061," using pen in gray and black ink, and brush in gray, around 1750. Buys was working during a time of burgeoning national consciousness and historical romanticism in the Netherlands. The image depicts a violent act against a resting figure, tapping into themes of betrayal, power, and vulnerability. We see the assassination of Count Floris I, not as a heroic battle, but as a clandestine, dishonorable act, stirring a particular emotional response. The choice to represent this event emphasizes a specific narrative of Dutch history, one that likely resonated with contemporary political sentiments. By focusing on the vulnerability of a leader, Buys' work prompts reflection on the responsibilities and moral ambiguities inherent in positions of authority and the narratives we construct around them.