Flotering: verbranding en ontleding 1565 - 1630

"Flotering: verbranding en ontleding" (Floating: Burning and Analysis), an etching by Italian artist Antonio Tempesta, depicts a gruesome scene of torture. The artwork, dated between 1565 and 1630, shows a man being stretched on a rack, while another man is being boiled in a cauldron. The detailed depiction of the torture methods, including the use of a bull, adds to the grim and unsettling nature of the piece. This print, now in the Rijksmuseum, exemplifies Tempesta's mastery of etching and his ability to capture the brutality of the 16th century. The intricate details and the sense of realism create a powerful and disturbing image that would have resonated with audiences of the time.