Oproep tot eendracht in de Nederlanden, 1578 1578

This 1578 engraving, "Oproep tot eendracht in de Nederlanden", by an anonymous artist, depicts a scene of public execution during the Eighty Years' War. The print, housed at the Rijksmuseum, utilizes a combination of visual and textual elements to make a powerful statement about the importance of unity against Spanish rule. The scene is set in a public square, with a central platform where a man is being executed. The detailed depiction of the event, including the crowd's reactions and the city's landscape, provides a poignant commentary on the brutality of the conflict. The surrounding text further emphasizes the need for solidarity in the face of oppression, making this a vital piece in understanding the political climate of the Dutch Revolt.