Fotoreproductie van een gravure van de ophanging van Don Pedro Pancieco en twee andere Spanjaarden door de Watergeuzen in Vlissingen in 1572 1850 - 1900

This is a reproduction of an anonymous engraving, depicting the hanging of Don Pedro Pancieco and two other Spaniards by the Watergeuzen in Vlissingen in 1572. The scene is rendered with a dense network of fine lines, creating a textured surface that draws the eye across the crowded composition. Notice how the artist uses line to meticulously detail the architecture and clothing of the figures. This contrasts sharply with the violent action at the center, where the bodies of the hanged men are rendered with a disturbing passivity. The composition is divided into distinct zones: the bustling crowd on the left, the stark gallows in the center, and architectural structures. Semiotically, the gallows operates as a signifier of power and justice, yet its placement disrupts any sense of order. It challenges viewers to question the narratives of power and justice. The artist invites us to consider how the formal elements of the engraving contribute to its complex portrayal of violence and retribution.