Beeldenstorm te Amsterdam, 1566 1854 - 1856

Frans Molenaar's "Beeldenstorm te Amsterdam, 1566" (1854-1856) is a black and white print depicting the "Iconoclasm" or "Image-Breaking" of 1566 in Amsterdam. It shows the destruction of religious imagery in the city's St. Nicholas Church. This historical event, fueled by tensions between Protestants and Catholics, shook Europe. Molenaar's portrayal captures the chaos and fear of the moment, with figures reacting in various states of panic and anger. The print is a powerful visual reminder of the religious turmoil that engulfed Europe in the 16th century.