De drie hoofdrolspelers in de samenzwering tegen Maurits, 1623 1623

This 1623 print at the Rijksmuseum presents "The Three Main Characters in the Conspiracy Against Maurits." The anonymous artist arranges the figures—Hendrick Danielsz Slatius, Reinier van Barnevelt, and Adriaen Adriaensz van Dijck—in a frieze-like composition across the foreground, set against a landscape filled with conflict. Their gestures and poses, rendered with fine, precise lines, convey a sense of tense dialogue. The stark contrast between the detailed foreground and the chaotic background, where a rebellion seems to unfold, creates a semiotic tension. This contrast undermines the apparent order, suggesting a destabilization of power. The three men become signs within a larger narrative. The choice of etching as a medium, with its capacity for intricate detail, highlights the complexity of the political machinations.