Kindermoord van Bethlehem 1728

Gilliam van der Gouwen created this chilling engraving, Kindermoord van Bethlehem, sometime before 1740. It depicts the biblical Massacre of the Innocents, a scene of infanticide ordered by King Herod in Bethlehem. Van der Gouwen translates a narrative of political and religious power into the visceral experience of mothers' suffering. We see soldiers violently seizing infants, while mothers reach out, beg, and mourn. There is a gut-wrenching emotionality in their gestures. These women embody resistance against tyranny, even as they are powerless to stop it. Notice the way the artist contrasts the chaos and violence in the foreground with the classical architecture in the background, a symbol of order and civilization. The engraving reflects the intersection of personal tragedy and the abuse of power. It serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of political machinations and the enduring symbol of maternal grief in the face of violence.