De moord op Willem van Oranje, 1584 1613 - 1615

This is a 1584 engraving that depicts the assassination of William of Orange, created by an anonymous Dutch artist. This image reflects the political and religious turmoil of the time, with William of Orange being a key figure in the Dutch Revolt against Spanish rule. The engraving uses a split-scene composition to illustrate the events leading up to and including the assassination. On the left, we see the assassin, Balthasar Gérard, stalking his victim, and on the right, the moment of the murder inside William's home in Delft. The architectural details and interior setting highlight the domestic space violated by this political act. As art historians, we examine such images not just for their aesthetic qualities, but for what they tell us about the social and political context of their creation. Contemporary pamphlets and chronicles, along with the records of political institutions, are invaluable resources for understanding the complex dynamics of the Dutch Revolt and the symbolic importance of William of Orange’s death.