Brutus kræver sine sønners straf for konsulerne 1574

Tobias Stimmer created this woodcut print titled "Brutus kræver sine sønners straf for konsulerne" sometime between 1559 and 1584. Stimmer was working during the Northern Renaissance, a time when artists were increasingly interested in classical antiquity and the humanist philosophies that came with it. This print depicts a scene from Roman history where Consul Brutus orders the execution of his own sons for treason. It’s a brutal moment, isn't it? Here, Stimmer asks us to consider what it means to serve the state versus the ties of family, using the crisp lines of the woodcut to convey the drama. What does it mean to sacrifice one's own flesh and blood for a political ideal? The story of Brutus highlights the conflicts between public duty and private emotion. This work really makes you think about the cost of leadership and the emotional sacrifices that come with it.