Plundering van het huis van kapitein Spaaroog tijdens het Aansprekersoproer te Amsterdam, 1696 1779 - 1781

Simon Fokke created this drawing, "Plundering van het huis van kapitein Spaaroog tijdens het Aansprekersoproer te Amsterdam, 1696," using pen in gray ink and brush in gray wash. The composition is dominated by the detailed rendering of the house under siege, set against a muted sky. The artist’s use of line and wash creates depth and texture, particularly in the chaotic scene of rioters and flying debris. Fokke’s style reflects a keen interest in capturing the raw energy of social upheaval. The scene is charged with semiotic weight, where the act of plundering itself becomes a signifier of broader social discontent. The house, once a symbol of stability, is destabilized. Through a formalist lens, the drawing's structure, with its emphasis on dynamic lines and tonal contrasts, mirrors the disruption and re-evaluation of societal norms during the Amsterdam riots.