Moord op de prins van Oranje, 1584 before 1752

Simon Fokke’s etching immortalizes the 1584 assassination of Prince William of Orange, capturing the chaos with stark symbolism. The figures brandishing halberds, their shafts forming a cage-like pattern, evoke the ever-present threat of violence that permeated the era, a symbol reminiscent of earlier depictions of martyrdom and sacrifice. Note how the checkerboard floor pulls the viewer into the scene, and the cloud of smoke obscures a clear view up the stairs. This motif echoes through time; think of the deposition scenes of Christ where a crowd of people are all vying for the viewer's attention, their individual motivations blurring. Consider the dog fleeing the scene: its tail tucked, a universal emblem of fear. This primal emotion, embedded in our collective memory, transcends time, engaging us on a subconscious level, creating a powerful and enduring image of human tragedy. This etching reminds us that such scenes of fear, chaos, and death recur, echoing through the corridors of history.