Onthoofding van de hertog van Monmouth 1689

Pieter Pickaert made this print, "Onthoofding van de hertog van Monmouth," sometime between 1669 and 1737 using engraving. Immediately, one notices the stark, linear quality inherent to this medium. The stark contrast between light and shadow, achieved through densely packed or sparsely distributed lines, creates a dramatic scene. The composition is bisected, foregrounding the execution while the background reveals the city skyline, implicating the broader societal implications of this event. Pickaert's use of line is particularly striking. Observe how the fine, precise lines give texture to fabrics and depth to the architectural forms, lending an almost tactile quality to the scene despite its grim subject matter. Consider how this detailed rendering serves not just to depict, but also to historicize and perhaps even moralize, fixing a moment of political consequence within the collective memory.