Henricus Slatius, met hand- en voetboeien, 1623 1623

Editor: Here we have Henricus Slatius, with Hand- en Voetboeien, an engraving from 1623, housed at the Rijksmuseum. What strikes me is the contrast – the figure in shackles, yet rendered with such detail, almost a sense of dignity. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Indeed. The chains are meant to be seen, not as instruments of abasement, but as signifiers of martyrdom and unwavering conviction. Iconographically, notice the subject's confident gaze, level with ours. He is defiant, challenging us. Editor: So the shackles aren't a symbol of defeat? I guess I saw them more literally. Curator: Consider what they represent to different audiences across time. What's your first response when you see a person with chains on their hands? Is it empowerment? Fear? Empathy? Who do you think this image of Slatius was intended for? Those who admired him, or those who sought to see him vilified? Editor: I didn’t consider how different viewers might respond to that imagery. Curator: The artist leverages this very ambiguity. The chains, instead of communicating absolute power of one subject over another, become almost…ambivalent. Notice the hat is a trope to mock radical ministers. Editor: That is interesting; symbols become signifiers, but they're flexible and shift with time and place. Curator: Precisely! These potent symbols persist and metamorphose over time, shaping how we remember and interpret history, reflecting an ongoing dialogue.