Terechtstelling van J.B.F. van Gogh te Amsterdam, 1778 1778

This print, made in 1778 by an anonymous artist, depicts the execution of J.B.F. van Gogh in Amsterdam. Executions were public events, and the location of this one, in front of the Paleis op de Dam, underscores the spectacle of state power and the criminalization of certain individuals. This image raises difficult questions about social hierarchy and justice. Who was J.B.F. van Gogh? What led to this gruesome event? What does it mean that his execution was a form of public entertainment? This image freezes in time the brutal realities of 18th-century justice, a system where punishment was a very public performance. Consider, too, the role of class in determining who faced such harsh penalties. The act of witnessing this event, etched in the print, is a stark reminder of how power is displayed and how societal control is exerted over the individual. It invites us to reflect on the emotional weight of such historical moments and their implications for our understanding of justice today.