Kokende olie en lopen over hete kolen

Antonio Tempesta created this print, “Kokende olie en lopen over hete kolen,” at the turn of the 17th century, using etching and engraving techniques. The stark contrast of light and shadow, achieved through the precise control of the burin, intensifies the depicted scene of torture. The image's power lies in its detailed rendering and the implied narratives around labor and class. Here, we witness the labor of torture, the subjugation of one body by others. The act of pouring hot oil is captured with almost clinical precision; look at the bowls, the position of the figures, the direction of the oil. Tempesta's choice of printmaking, a medium that democratized images, allowed for broad circulation of these scenes, thus embedding them in the cultural consciousness of his time. The work serves as a reminder of the socio-political context in which it was created. It challenges us to reflect on the uncomfortable truths about power, violence, and spectatorship.