Auto-da-fe in Valladolid, 1558 1701 - 1703

Coenraet Decker produced this print, "Auto-da-fe in Valladolid, 1558," sometime between 1650 and 1685, using etching. Decker's work transports us to 16th-century Spain, a time marked by the fervor of the Inquisition. This image depicts an "Auto-da-fe," a public ceremony where the Inquisition passed judgment on those accused of heresy. The print vividly captures the spectacle of religious authority, as figures are paraded before crowds and convicted heretics are burned at the stake. Decker, working in the Netherlands, was far removed from the Spanish context. His print reflects a keen interest in critiquing the power structures of his day. It is likely that Decker’s work served as propaganda during the Eighty Years' War (1568-1648) between the Netherlands and Spain. To fully grasp Decker’s commentary, we can consult historical archives and religious texts. By situating art within its historical context, we understand not only what it depicts but also what it seeks to critique and reveal about the society of its time.