De moord op burgemeester Beernt Proys in diens bed, te Utrecht, 1425 1789 - 1791

Jacobus Buys created this pen and brown ink drawing to illustrate the murder of Beernt Proys in Utrecht, in 1425. While Buys made it centuries later, this piece offers insights into the intersection of art and civic memory in the Dutch Republic. Executed in the late eighteenth century, the drawing presents a dramatic scene: armed men barge into Proys’ bedchamber, their swords poised to strike as horrified onlookers raise their hands in vain protest. This wasn't merely a crime, it was a political act with long-lasting repercussions. By immortalizing this event, Buys participates in a cultural practice of constructing historical narratives that served contemporary political purposes. As historians, we need to examine visual culture with scrutiny. By delving into archives, pamphlets, and civic records, we can decode the symbolic language of the drawing. Understanding Buys's artistic choices, alongside the political climate of his time, sheds light on how historical events are transformed into cultural narratives.