Oproer te Rotterdam, 1690 1690

"Oproer te Rotterdam," or "Riot in Rotterdam," made in 1690 by an anonymous artist, captures a moment of civil unrest through the medium of print. Consider the role of the printing press in disseminating information, and how this print might have shaped public opinion during a period ripe with political and social tensions. What narratives did it perpetuate, and whose voices were silenced? The figures depicted appear caught in the throes of chaos, their expressions and postures conveying a sense of urgency and perhaps fear. There is a tension embedded in this piece, between the desire for order and the eruption of dissent. As you stand here, imagine yourself as a resident of Rotterdam in 1690, witnessing or perhaps participating in the events depicted. How would this image influence your understanding of justice, power, and the possibility of collective action?