William Tell Refusing to Honor Governor Gessler's Hat Possibly 1620

Hans Kaspar Lang the Elder created this ink drawing, “William Tell Refusing to Honor Governor Gessler’s Hat,” sometime in the early 17th century. The artwork depicts a scene punctuated by stark contrasts and dynamic composition. The monochromatic rendering, accented by subtle washes, sets a tone of severity, while the lines, both delicate and bold, define the contours of figures and landscape alike. The composition is divided into distinct zones, each telling part of the story. On the left, Tell stands firm, framed by a tree and his weaponry. To the right, a procession advances, led by a figure carrying Gessler’s hat on a pole. The semiotic charge of this image lies in the refusal—Tell’s defiance against authoritarian symbols, a challenge to established power structures. Lang uses a combination of detail and simplification. The landscape elements are minimally rendered. This not only directs our focus to the central drama, but also invites us to consider how the act of refusal itself becomes a powerful form of visual statement.