Afstraffelse ved radbrækning 1633

Jacques Callot’s 1633 etching "Afstraffelse ved radbrækning" depicts a gruesome scene of public execution by breaking on the wheel. The print is a powerful indictment of the barbarity of the Thirty Years' War, a conflict that ravaged Europe in the early 17th century. The etching is characterized by Callot's meticulous attention to detail, with individual figures rendered with a disturbingly realistic precision, showcasing his talent for capturing the chaotic and brutal realities of war. The scene is set against a backdrop of a city wall, which further emphasizes the public nature of the punishment and the fear it instilled in the population.