Predikant Johannes Florianus te Brussel als ketter in een zak gebonden en in een put geworpen, 1585 1783

This print, made by Reinier Vinkeles in the late 18th or early 19th century, depicts an event from 1585. It's a scene of religious persecution, rendered through the meticulous process of engraving. The image is built up from countless tiny lines incised into a metal plate, a labor-intensive technique demanding immense skill. Ink is then applied to the plate, pressed onto paper, and the result is this stark, reproducible image. Look closely, and you can almost feel the weight of the lines, the density of the shadows, and the grim scene emerging from the page. Vinkeles wasn't just illustrating history. He was using the craft of engraving to make a statement, participating in the early modern debates about religious intolerance, and the importance of bearing witness. The print is not merely a picture; it is a testament to the power of craft to shape our understanding of the past. It reminds us that even the most delicate of lines can carry the weight of history.