Zeven edelen voor de poort van het Château d'Amboise opgehangen, 1560 c. 1567 - 1571

This etching, "Zeven edelen voor de poort van het Château d'Amboise opgehangen, 1560", was created by Frans Hogenberg. Notice how the composition is structured around a stark contrast between the architectural rigidity of the Château d'Amboise and the chaotic violence unfolding before it. Hogenberg meticulously uses line and form to dissect the scene. The architecture is delineated with precise, unwavering lines, emphasizing its imposing presence and the power it represents. This contrasts with the figures; their forms are broken, distorted by the violence being enacted upon them. The bodies hanging at the gate of the Château form a macabre framing device. The work uses architectural structures to highlight themes of power, justice, and the body politic. Hogenberg destabilizes established meanings. The piece challenges viewers to contemplate the relationship between the spectacle of violence and the structures that enable it, prompting a deeper reflection on the codes of justice.