Vier voorstellingen uit de geschiedenis van de Bartholomeusnacht 1797

Daniel Nikolaus Chodowiecki created this print, titled 'Four scenes from the history of the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre', sometime in the 18th century. This work revisits a dark chapter in European history, navigating the treacherous waters of religious conflict and political power. The St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre in 1572 was a surge of violence against the Huguenots, French Protestants, revealing the deep chasms of religious and political identity that scarred France. Chodowiecki, living in a time of evolving religious tolerance, looks back at this history to make sense of the present. How do we remember, and how do we represent such a traumatic event? Each scene captures moments of betrayal and violence, reflecting the ways in which religious and political identities can be weaponized. As we contemplate this print, let's consider the role of memory in shaping our understanding of identity, and the responsibility we bear in confronting difficult histories.