Dood van Manius Aquillius 1798

This print by Ludwig Gottlieb Portman depicts the death of Manius Aquillius. The image stages a ritualistic execution, dominated by the gesture of pointing, a symbol heavy with significance. The turbaned figure, a foreign ruler, points accusingly at Aquillius’ lifeless body. This accusatory gesture echoes across time. Consider Pontius Pilate presenting Christ to the crowd, or even earlier depictions of judgment scenes in ancient Egyptian art. The pointed finger becomes a symbol of blame, of assigning responsibility for suffering and death. This motif taps into a deep-seated human need to find cause and effect, to understand tragedy, and to place blame. The power of such gestures lies in their ability to trigger immediate emotional and psychological responses. The pointed finger evokes a sense of guilt, judgment, and social exclusion, a primal reaction passed down through generations. Portman's print uses this powerful symbol to engage viewers on a subconscious level, illustrating how these motifs continually resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings in different historical contexts.