Gevangenneming van Filips van Marnix, heer van Sint-Aldegonde, 1573 1785

Reinier Vinkeles etched this print, "The Capture of Philips of Marnix, Lord of Sint-Aldegonde, 1573," during the late 18th century. The central scene depicts the moment of capture, frozen in time by the artist. Note the spears forming diagonal lines, crossing like instruments of fate above the captured figure. This motif of crossed weapons echoes through art history—from ancient Roman battle scenes to Renaissance depictions of martyrdom—each time symbolizing conflict and the abrupt end of freedom. The raised hands, a gesture of surrender, resonate with the supplication found in religious art. Yet, here, it marks not divine devotion but human defeat. Such gestures remind us of our shared, subconscious understanding of vulnerability, passed down through generations. The symbol of captivity will continue to reappear, perpetually reshaped by new meanings.