Uitleg bij de spotprent van de kastijding van de Arnhemse burgemeesters Bentinck en Brantsen, 1784 1784

This satirical print from 1784 by Jacob Nijhoff depicts the public punishment of Arnhem's mayors. We see figures being pelted with various objects, a symbolic act of public shaming. The act of pelting, while appearing simple, carries deep historical weight. In ancient societies, it was a form of ritual cleansing, where the community symbolically purged itself of wrongdoing by casting stones or other objects at the transgressor. This motif reappears in various forms throughout history, from the stoning scenes in religious texts to modern-day protests where objects are thrown to express disapproval. The gesture of public humiliation taps into a collective memory, evoking feelings of moral outrage and social correction. Nijhoff’s print thus not only captures a moment in time but also engages with a powerful, subconscious understanding of justice and social order that has been passed down through generations.