Gedicht op het zwaard waarmee Johan van Oldenbarnevelt in 1619 zou zijn onthoofd Possibly 1744

This is "Poem on the sword with which Johan van Oldenbarnevelt was allegedly beheaded in 1619" by Jacob Elias Michielsz, made in 1744. The poem is written in Dutch on a page, and it commemorates a controversial figure. Oldenbarnevelt was a leading statesman in the Dutch Republic who was executed for treason in 1619, amid religious and political tensions. Michielsz's poem engages with the conflicted memory of Oldenbarnevelt, who even after his death was seen as a martyr for republican ideals. The poem reflects a cultural narrative where Oldenbarnevelt is seen as a patriot unjustly put to death. The text evokes strong emotions about justice, sacrifice, and national identity. Michielsz was active during a period when the Dutch Republic was reflecting on its past and its identity. "Poem on the sword..." is more than a historical reflection. It's an emotional and personal engagement with themes of justice, sacrifice, and national identity, which speaks to the enduring power of art to shape our understanding of history.