Mishandeling der Joden in Tracië c. 1734 - 1801

Jacobus Buys created this pen and gray ink drawing titled 'Mishandeling der Joden in Tracië'—or 'Mistreatment of Jews in Thrace'—some time in the 18th century. In it, we see a moment of violence perpetrated against a group of Jewish people. During the 1700s, the Enlightenment was beginning to challenge traditional prejudices, but antisemitism unfortunately remained widespread. Buys, working within this context, contributes to the visual narratives of Jewish suffering. The drawing depicts Roman soldiers tormenting Jewish figures; one is forced to eat pork, violating religious laws, while others look on. The emotional weight of the scene lies in the contrast between the vulnerability of the Jewish figures and the brutality of the soldiers, an example of the routine degradation experienced by marginalized communities. As we consider this work, it invites us to reflect on the power dynamics inherent in historical representations of persecution.