Naakte tot slaaf gemaakte vrouwen dansen en maken muziek voordat ze ter dood worden gebracht 1610 - 1665

Salomon Savery created this small engraving entitled ‘Naakte tot slaaf gemaakte vrouwen dansen en maken muziek voordat ze ter dood worden gebracht’ sometime between 1617 and 1639. Savery was working during the Dutch Golden Age, a period of tremendous economic growth for the Netherlands fueled by maritime trade and, let’s not forget, colonialism and slavery. Here, Savery depicts the brutal realities of power, gender, and violence. In the upper scene, nude enslaved women are forced to dance and make music for a leering audience before their execution. Below, other women lie dead. This engraving stages a grotesque spectacle, highlighting the sexual exploitation and dehumanization inherent in the subjugation of women. While seemingly distant in time, Savery’s image resonates with contemporary discussions about the representation of violence, the commodification of bodies, and the legacies of historical oppression. It asks us to consider whose stories are told, who is silenced, and how we confront the uncomfortable truths of our collective past.