Twee voorstellingen van de Franse wreedheden, 1672 1673 - 1674

This anonymous etching, "Twee voorstellingen van de Franse wreedheden, 1672" (Two depictions of French cruelties, 1672) from 1673-1674, depicts two scenes of violence perpetrated by French soldiers during the Franco-Dutch War. The upper scene shows a group of soldiers on horseback dragging a naked man through the countryside, while the lower scene shows a group of soldiers attacking a group of villagers. This graphic portrayal of brutality was likely intended to stir public outrage and support for the Dutch resistance. The print, now housed in the Rijksmuseum, stands as a powerful testament to the horrors of war.