Moord op de prins van Oranje, 1584 1752

Simon Fokke's engraving captures the assassination of William the Silent in 1584. The swirling smoke from the gun and the fleeing figures evoke the chaos of the moment, but it's the fallen dog that truly captivates. Dogs, often symbols of loyalty, appear frequently in art history, like in Jan van Eyck’s "Arnolfini Portrait", representing fidelity and domesticity. Yet, here, the dog's demise mirrors William’s own, betraying a profound sense of disruption. In the collective memory, dogs are guardians; their fall signifies a breakdown of order, stirring deep-seated fears of betrayal. The checkerboard floor, a common stage for significant events in paintings like Caravaggio’s “David and Goliath,” suggests a game of fate. The cold, calculated geometry against the raw emotion of the murder heightens the psychological tension. The image’s power lies in its ability to tap into our subconscious understanding of loyalty, betrayal, and the fragility of life, themes that echo through art across centuries.