Verminking van de lichamen van de gebroeders de Witt, 1672 1728

Editor: This drawing, "Verminking van de lichamen van de gebroeders de Witt, 1672," made in 1728 by Bernard Picart using ink, depicts a gruesome scene. It has a frenetic quality due to the density of figures. What do you see in this piece, particularly in the context of its historical subject matter? Curator: What strikes me is how Picart, even decades after the event, captures not just violence, but the performative aspect of political outrage. Look at the way the crowd is arranged, almost like a theater audience. This wasn’t simply murder, it was a public spectacle of power, a brutal assertion of dominance rooted in the political upheaval of the time. What do you notice about the de Witt brothers themselves within the composition? Editor: They seem almost secondary, hoisted up and obscured. It’s the crowd that really takes center stage. The act of desecration is distributed across many participants. Curator: Exactly. It’s a collective act, but also a diffused one. It speaks to the dangers of groupthink and the way societal frustrations can be channeled into horrific acts of dehumanization. Consider how the lack of definition in some of the faces might reflect the way individual accountability disappears within a mob. How do you see that reflected in current issues related to power and accountability? Editor: I see how easy it is to get swept up in things like cancel culture or online harassment, where individuals contribute to something harmful without fully considering the consequences. Curator: Precisely. This piece makes us reflect on the complexities of collective action, accountability, and the ever-present potential for violence when political passions run unchecked. It remains chillingly relevant today. Editor: It's unnerving to see how historical events continue to speak to our current challenges. This drawing is not just a depiction of violence but a mirror reflecting societal flaws.