Gedicht op het zwaard waarmee Johan van Oldenbarnevelt in 1619 zou zijn onthoofd 1745

Mattheus de Ruuscher created this poem, "Gedicht op het zwaard waarmee Johan van Oldenbarnevelt in 1619 zou zijn onthoofd," sometime after 1690 using ink on paper. The poem serves as a haunting reflection on power, justice, and sacrifice in the wake of the execution of Johan van Oldenbarnevelt. De Ruuscher grapples with the injustice of Oldenbarnevelt's death, questioning why a man who fought for freedom met such a grim end. The act of writing itself becomes an act of memorialization. It transforms a symbol of death into a vehicle for remembrance and resistance against historical injustice. It invites reflection on the precariousness of justice and the cost of political conviction. Through the emotional intensity of the poem, De Ruuscher transforms historical events into a deeply personal and resonant experience, inviting viewers to reflect on themes of justice, sacrifice, and the enduring power of memory.