Burning of 224 Waldensians, Toulon, AD 1243 1684

Jan Luyken created this print depicting the Burning of 224 Waldensians using etching, a printmaking technique that utilizes metal plates. The linear quality of the print comes from the precise, controlled erosion of the metal plate with acid, a technique that is well-suited to detailed and reproducible images. Notice how the act of repetitive, manual labor is translated into Luyken's image of mass execution. The bundles of faggots, graphically depicted, stand as silent testimony to the amount of labor involved in collecting, hewing, and preparing the pyre for the burning. The sharp lines of the fire echo the emotional intensity of the scene. Luyken's choice of printmaking allowed for the widespread dissemination of this image, making it a powerful tool for religious and political commentary. It serves as a grim reminder of the labor and material processes inherent not only in art but also in acts of violence and oppression.