De lijken van de wederdopers op het galgenveld, 1535 1612 - 1614

This print, ‘The corpses of the Anabaptists on the gallows field’, was made anonymously in 1535 using etching. It graphically depicts the execution of Anabaptists, a radical Protestant sect, in the Netherlands. This image creates meaning through its stark visual codes. The rows of hanging bodies, displayed in gruesome detail, serve as a potent warning. The gallows field, a public space, becomes a stage for state-sanctioned violence, reinforcing the power of the ruling authorities. Consider the cultural context: the 16th century was a time of religious upheaval. The Anabaptists, with their belief in adult baptism and social equality, were seen as a threat to the established order. This image, therefore, functions as propaganda, justifying the suppression of dissent. The historian can consult archival documents, religious treatises, and legal records to understand the social and political climate that produced this disturbing artwork. The meaning of the artwork depends on the social and institutional context in which it was made and viewed.