Aanslag op Willem van Oranje door Jean Jaureguy, 1582 1853 - 1855

Jan Frederik Christiaan Reckleben created this print, “Attack on William of Orange by Jean Jaureguy, 1582,” sometime in the mid-19th century. A flurry of grey and white activity surges towards us, the cross-hatching of the print creating a sense of depth that pulls us into the conflict. The composition divides into three distinct zones: the foreground where the fallen assassin lies, the jostling middle ground, and the distant background of onlookers, all framed by the archways of the building. Reckleben employs line and shadow to focus our attention on the figures surrounding William, creating a dense knot of action and reaction. The print's formal structure offers a reading of power and chaos. The stark contrast between light and dark emphasizes the drama of the moment, but also suggests a deeper structural tension. By emphasizing the inherent drama through the arrangement of shapes, the composition engages in a discourse about historical violence. The structural patterns reveal power dynamics within the narrative, where chaos is both a consequence and an expression of conflict.