Aanslag van de wederdopers op Amsterdam, 1535 1853 - 1861

Christiaan Lodewijk van Kesteren created this print depicting the Anabaptist attack on Amsterdam in 1535. The composition, rendered in lithography, immediately strikes us with its dynamic arrangement of forms. Notice how van Kesteren uses contrasting textures and tones to articulate the chaos of the scene. The rough stonework of the building provides a solid, static counterpoint to the fluid lines describing the figures in motion. This interplay creates a visual tension, underscoring the disruption of order. The billowing smoke suggests a rupture, challenging the stability of the architectural space. In its formal structure, the artwork stages a play between order and disorder, stability and upheaval. The lines direct our eyes through the unfolding conflict. The artist captures a historical moment and reflects broader concerns about social and religious unrest.