Gedicht op het zwaard waarmee Johan van Oldenbarnevelt in 1619 zou zijn onthoofd 1744

This poem, made by Philip Zweerts around 1749, is inscribed with ink on paper. It’s a meditation on the sword used to execute Johan van Oldenbarnevelt in 1619. Consider the contrast between the violent act, and the quiet labor of handwriting. Zweerts carefully forms each letter, reflecting on the injustice of the execution. It’s a slow, deliberate process, demanding patience. The poem itself becomes a memorial, an act of preservation through meticulous craft. The choice of handwriting, rather than print, suggests a personal connection to the subject. It mirrors the intimate act of remembrance. The poem's material form—paper, ink, and handwriting—infuses it with social significance. In a time of political unrest, the act of writing becomes an assertion of memory and a subtle form of resistance. Zweerts transforms the physical labor of writing into a powerful statement about justice, memory, and the enduring power of the written word.