Martelaarschap van de tienduizend (zesde deel) c. 1515 - 1520

Domenico Campagnola produced this print, "Martyrdom of the Ten Thousand," sometime in the first half of the 16th century. Here, we see a scene of mass execution, referencing a story of Christian persecution. But it's important to remember that images like this weren't just illustrations; they played a part in shaping religious and political identities. Made in Venice, the image comes from a time when the city was a hub of printing and the distribution of images. The format of the print allowed such stories to circulate widely. Venice had its own unique political structure and relationship with the Catholic Church, so images of martyrdom could carry complex meanings. Was this image meant to inspire piety, or to comment on contemporary power struggles? To really understand this print, we'd want to dig into the history of religious imagery in Venice, look at the political climate of the time, and examine how prints like this were used and understood by different audiences. Only then can we start to grasp its role in the cultural landscape of the time.