Geseling 1545 - 1577

Editor: This is "Geseling" from sometime between 1545 and 1577, made by Pieter Huys. It's currently held at the Rijksmuseum. The engraving has an oppressive mood, all sharp angles and looming figures. What's your interpretation of the way Huys chose to depict such a heavy subject? Curator: Oppressive is a brilliant word for it. The scene feels claustrophobic, doesn't it? You're right to notice the angles. Mannerism, the style Huys was working in, often favored drama and tension over naturalism. Think about how he uses line – almost frantically etched – to create a sense of unease. Do you see how little open space exists, like all the air has been sucked out of the room? Editor: Yes, it does feel really packed in, almost uncomfortably so. It definitely adds to the feeling of the piece. So much detail packed into every inch. Curator: Exactly. And consider the theatricality. It's not just violence, but performance. The exaggerated gestures, the faces contorted into expressions of… what would you say, contempt? Mockery? This print invites you not just to witness the scene, but to grapple with the emotional turmoil within it. Perhaps Huys is pointing a mirror to humanity, showing us a reflection we’d rather not acknowledge. Editor: I see what you mean. It makes you think about the different kinds of cruelty, not just the physical act, but the humiliation too. It's kind of disturbing realizing the variety of expressions on their faces. Thanks for pointing that out! Curator: And thank you for lending your thoughtful insights! That exchange gave me new ways of thinking about violence in 16th century Europe.