Gedicht op het zwaard waarmee Johan van Oldenbarnevelt in 1619 zou zijn onthoofd Possibly 1744

This handwritten poem was composed by Nikolaes Versteeg, probably in the mid-18th century. The text is rendered with iron gall ink on paper, a common combination at the time. But consider the circumstances of its creation: not as a free outpouring of sentiment, but as a meditation on a specific object, namely the sword that had been used to behead Johan van Oldenbarnevelt in 1619. Think about the contrast between the permanence of ink on paper, intended to last, and the fleeting nature of the execution. Versteeg did not witness the grim event, he would have known of it only through stories. The poem is a form of vicarious engagement. It is tempting to read the poem's creation as a political act, but perhaps the work offers a more personal dimension. This is a man, alone with his thoughts, reflecting on the instruments of power and violence and on the emotional repercussions of such events. What, finally, is the relationship between writing something down, and taking decisive action?