Onthoofding van de graveur Cornelis de Hooghe, 1583 1780 - 1795

Editor: So, this is Jacobus Buys’ pen and ink drawing, "Onthoofding van de graveur Cornelis de Hooghe, 1583", made sometime between 1780 and 1795. It depicts, well, a beheading. There's this sense of public spectacle that's both intriguing and disturbing. How do you interpret this work, especially given its historical context? Curator: The power of this image lies in its stark portrayal of state violence, doesn't it? We need to look beyond the immediate gruesomeness and consider the social implications. This wasn’t just a random act; it was a highly ritualized display of power. Who was Cornelis de Hooghe and why was he executed? Thinking about this will help us understand the political and social tensions of the time. Editor: I believe De Hooghe was accused of treason or something similar, which does explain the public nature of the execution. But why choose to depict this event so long after it happened? Is it a statement about justice, or something else entirely? Curator: Exactly! It’s crucial to examine Buys's motives. The late 18th century was a time of great upheaval with new ideas about individual rights and freedom circulating, so how might the artist use this image from the past to comment on contemporary political issues? The fact that it’s rendered in pen and ink, a medium often used for sketches and preparatory drawings, also makes me think about accessibility, wider distribution and engagement with emerging publics. Does it function as propaganda, as historical record, or a cautionary tale? Editor: That makes me think about how history is constantly reinterpreted through the lens of the present. Thanks for highlighting the political undertones. I had focused so much on the literal scene. Curator: And I focused perhaps a bit too much on political themes. The artistic choices Jacobus Buys made really intensify the emotional power of the drawing. Perhaps the real skill lies in that combination of art and activist intervention.