Burning of About 80 Waldensians, Strasbourg, AD 1215 1685

Jan Luyken's engraving depicts the burning of Waldensians in Strasbourg in 1215. Central to the image is the motif of fire, a symbol of purification but here twisted into an emblem of religious persecution. Consider how the flames leap skyward, reminiscent of sacrificial pyres from ancient pagan rites, yet now employed to eradicate those deemed heretics. This act of burning is not unique; we see echoes in the trials of Joan of Arc and the Spanish Inquisition. The column-like stakes to which the Waldensians are bound evoke images of ancient Roman crucifixions. These recurring images tap into a primal fear and collective memory. The act of binding and burning, transmuted across eras, highlights humanity's capacity for cruelty, a dark inheritance passed down through history. These depictions, though separated by time, serve as a powerful reminder of the cyclical nature of intolerance and the ever-present need to confront our basest impulses.