Executioner’s sword used to behead Oldenbarnevelt 1600 - 1625

This is the executioner's sword used to behead Oldenbarnevelt, made by an anonymous artist, at an unknown date. The sword's composition is dominated by a severe, linear symmetry, its cold, grey metal conveying a sense of stark finality. The textured surface evokes an emotional response, a visceral connection to its grim purpose. The sword is not just an object but also a symbol of power and justice, a semiotic device laden with cultural and historical meaning. Consider the blade's rigid form. The blade has a broad, flat surface, a visual metaphor for the cold, detached application of law. The cross-guard creates a division, a visual barrier between the wielder and the act, suggesting an attempt to separate the individual from the deed. The sword stands as a stark reminder that meaning is not inherent but constructed through cultural codes and historical contexts. The sword challenges established meanings, questioning the values and categories of justice and morality.