Karel V straft de inwoners van Gent, 1540 1782 - 1784

Simon Fokke created this print, "Charles V Punishing the People of Ghent," sometime in the 18th century, using etching. The etcher’s work involved carefully coating a metal plate with wax, then drawing into it with a sharp needle. This labor-intensive process required immense skill, as the image then had to be bitten into the plate with acid, leaving behind grooves to hold ink. The final print is made by pressing paper against the inked plate. The lines are rendered with precision, creating a scene of subjugation, as the artist skillfully captures the complex interplay between power and submission. The contrast between the precision of the technique and the subject it portrays--the punishment of a city’s inhabitants-- invites us to reflect on the social and political context of the artwork. Fokke reminds us of the labor involved in its making and the labor of a city subjugated. Ultimately, understanding the material processes of creation enriches our appreciation of the print’s historical significance.