Marteldood van zeven broers en hun moeder Possibly 1705 - 1728

"Marteldood van zeven broers en hun moeder" (The Martyrdom of Seven Brothers and their Mother), an etching by Dutch artist Matthijs Pool, depicts a scene of gruesome violence. The artwork, located at the Rijksmuseum, showcases a dramatic and detailed portrayal of the story, likely based on the biblical narrative of the Maccabean Revolt, where Antiochus IV Epiphanes, the king of the Seleucid Empire, persecutes Jews who refuse to assimilate. The scene shows the seven brothers being tortured and their mother being put to death. Pool's meticulous technique and the use of shadow and light bring the brutality and tragedy of the event to life, serving as a potent reminder of religious persecution and the struggle for faith.