Bethlehemitischer Kindermord 

Gaspare Diziani rendered this pen and brown ink drawing, titled "Bethlehemitischer Kindermord," capturing the biblical Massacre of the Innocents. The drawing is dominated by a scene of chaos and violence, depicting infanticide soldiers in their brutal act. The dramatic gestures of the figures, the soldiers raising their swords and the mothers reaching out in desperate pleas, evoke powerful emotions of fear, and despair. The motif of infanticide appears throughout history, from ancient myths to Renaissance paintings. Consider how, in each retelling, the image takes on nuances, reflecting society's changing attitudes toward childhood and violence. This is a powerful image that forces us to confront the darker aspects of human history and the collective memory of violence. It serves as a chilling reminder of the ever-present potential for barbarity and the psychological scars it leaves behind.