Terechtstelling van burgemeester Cornelis van der Burgh te Leeuwarden, 1789 1783 - 1795

This etching by Reinier Vinkeles depicts the execution of Cornelis van der Burgh, the mayor of Leeuwarden, in 1789. Created between 1783 and 1795, it is a detailed illustration of the event, capturing the somber atmosphere and the crowd gathered to witness the execution. The scene is set in a public square with a building in the background. The central figure is van der Burgh kneeling, while a man holds a sword above him. A group of onlookers observe the gruesome scene, representing the impact of this historical event. The engraving is a poignant reminder of the brutal realities of punishment in 18th-century Europe.