Verkrachting van de vrouw van Gerard van Velzen door Floris V, 1296 1664 - 1699

This anonymous print depicts the rape of Gerard van Velzen’s wife by Floris V in 1296. Our attention is immediately drawn to the struggle occurring in the bedchamber. The act is framed by the heavy drapery and ornate carvings of the bed, symbols of domesticity violated. Consider the motif of the dog in the foreground, lunging forward. Throughout art history, the dog has been a complex symbol representing fidelity, loyalty, but also aggression. Here, its presence evokes a primal, instinctual reaction to the unfolding violence. We see echoes of this motif in ancient Roman frescoes, where dogs guard thresholds, and in Renaissance paintings, where they symbolize marital fidelity. Yet, the snarling dog here embodies a darker, more chaotic force. The tension between order and chaos, civilization and barbarity, is palpable, engaging us on a subconscious level. The image is a powerful reminder of how symbols carry emotional and psychological weight across time, resurfacing in different forms, each time imbued with new layers of meaning.