De verdrukking van de Nederlanden onder Alva, ca. 1567 1624 - 1626

Editor: This engraving, "The Oppression of the Netherlands under Alva," created between 1624 and 1626 by Pieter Serwouters, really hits you with a sense of injustice, doesn't it? All those figures around this contraption… what do you make of it? Curator: It's a potent image, indeed. To me, this print is a theatrical performance. We are the audience invited to witness the suffering of the Netherlands – represented by the lion being crushed. Think about the artist's choice of an engraving; the sharp lines and stark contrasts intensify the drama, practically etching the pain into our minds. Does the mechanical nature of the device speak to you about the cold, calculated nature of oppression? Editor: Absolutely, that’s what creates the mood, this uncaring mechanism. All these historical figures participate in something that has a strong message. Is that why they are labelled from 1 to 15? Curator: Exactly. Each figure is carefully positioned and identified, a clear condemnation of the Spanish regime under the Duke of Alva. It's a piece brimming with symbolism. Can you feel the tension between the static figures and the implied motion of the press? Editor: It is palpable. And now that you say, this image denounces a lot of elements on what happened at the time. I originally only saw this scene, but it represents so much more, the entire country actually. Curator: Precisely! Serwouters manages to turn this historical event into a lasting, emotional statement about resistance. Do you see a clear statement in the print? Editor: Definitely, and considering this was made a few decades after the events, I find this a potent piece of historical commentary.