De moord op de gebroeders De Witt, 1672 1672

Gaspar Bouttats etched this image of the De Witt brothers' murder in 1672, an engraving filled with the potent symbols of public violence. The central motif—the inverted corpses of the brothers hanging on the scaffold—harkens back to ancient forms of humiliation and punishment, a brutal display intended to strip away dignity even in death. Consider the recurring image of the hanged man throughout history, from ancient Roman crucifixions to medieval gibbets. This symbol transcends mere execution, evolving into a potent signifier of societal breakdown and the precariousness of human existence. The act of inversion, turning the body upside down, carries deep psychological weight, signifying a world turned on its head. Observe the baying crowd, their gestures echoing a primal bloodlust. This collective frenzy taps into the depths of our collective unconscious, a reminder of the fragility of civilization. Bouttats' engraving is not just a depiction of a historical event; it is a stark confrontation with the enduring power of symbols and the dark undercurrents of human nature.