Persecution by Emperors Diocletian and Maximus, AD 301 1685

Jan Luyken’s engraving, "Persecution by Emperors Diocletian and Maximus, AD 301," captures a scene of profound suffering through its stark lines and dramatic composition. The symmetrical arrangement places the viewer in the midst of chaos, with detailed figures spread across a shallow pictorial space. Luyken uses sharp, contrasting lines to highlight the violence inflicted on the bodies of the persecuted, emphasizing their vulnerability. The structural opposition between the active tormentors and the passive victims creates a visual tension, amplifying the emotional impact. The foreground is filled with graphic depictions of cruelty, while the background shows an orderly crowd within a coliseum. The engravings’s stark realism is a commentary on the historical narratives of religious persecution and the structures of power that enable such brutality. Luyken uses the formal elements of composition and line to construct a powerful statement about human suffering and the moral questions it raises.