Verminking van de lichamen van de gebroeders de Witt, 1672 1728

Bernard Picart made this drawing, "Verminking van de lichamen van de gebroeders de Witt", in 1672. The red chalk outlines create a dizzying spectacle of chaos and violence. The composition, teeming with figures, is anchored by the stark verticality of the gallows. The red chalk lines give the drawing a sense of immediacy, as if capturing a fleeting moment. Each figure is rendered with a network of individual lines which create a sense of depth and movement. The absence of color throws our attention onto the grotesque actions depicted. This artistic choice is less about realism and more about provoking a visceral reaction. Picart’s use of line and form conveys the disintegration of social order and the brutal, dehumanizing frenzy of the mob. He uses lines to dissect space and challenge fixed meanings. The drawing exists as a stark reminder of the horrors of collective violence. It invites us to reflect on the darker aspects of human behavior.