Executie van de Boheemse Groten te Praag, 1621 1621

Frans Hogenberg’s engraving depicts the Execution of the Bohemian Nobles in Prague's Old Town Square in 1621. Its value as a historical record is immediately apparent, but also raises questions. Executed following the Battle of White Mountain, this event marked a turning point in Bohemian history. The image, with its detailed depictions of the condemned and the execution itself, serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of resistance to Habsburg rule. Hogenberg's print, with its strong linear forms, places itself within the tradition of early modern printmaking as a tool for disseminating information. How accurate is this image? What biases might Hogenberg, a Netherlandish artist, have brought to his depiction of this event in Bohemia? Archival sources from the period, including official records and personal accounts, can shed light on these questions and help us understand the complex social and political dynamics of the time.