Executie van de samenzweerders tegen Maurits, 1623 1623

This etching, "Executie van de samenzweerders tegen Maurits" made in 1623 by Nicolaes van Geelkercken, visualizes a dramatic historical event with a stark formal clarity. The composition is divided horizontally, presenting a bird's-eye view above and a series of detailed scenes below. Notice how Geelkercken uses linear perspective to draw our eye towards the distant horizon, yet the density of the crowd resists a sense of depth. The stark contrast between the dark, teeming masses and the light open spaces creates a visual tension, emphasizing the gravity of the executions. The lower register depicts the brutal acts of justice, each figure rendered with meticulous detail, almost as if to dissect the unfolding drama. Geelkercken employs a semiotic language of order and chaos, control and violence, revealing the intricate power dynamics at play. The print destabilizes any singular reading of justice, inviting us to question the spectacle of punishment and its broader implications within the social and political context of the time.