Foltering: doorboring van het lichaam 1565 - 1630

"Foltering: doorboring van het lichaam" (Torture: Piercing of the Body) is an etching by Italian artist Antonio Tempesta, created between 1565 and 1630. The artwork, now housed in the Rijksmuseum, depicts a gruesome scene of torture. A bound figure lies on the ground while three executioners torment him. One man stabs the victim with a spear, while another holds a knife to his throat. In the background, a figure stands tied to a tree, suggesting the extent of the victim's suffering. The scene is presented with graphic detail, highlighting the brutality of the event. The etching exemplifies Tempesta's skill in depicting both historical and mythological subjects, often with a focus on violence and suffering.