Man aan een galg 1694 - 1737

Pieter van den Berge created this print titled 'Man aan een galg' which translates to 'Man on a gallows', sometime between the late 17th and early 18th centuries. It's a stark depiction of public execution, reflecting the brutal realities of power and punishment in that era. This image captures a moment rife with political tension. Executions like these were not just about punishment, they were carefully staged displays of state authority, meant to deter dissent and reinforce social hierarchies. Consider the figures in the crowd – their expressions, their positions. Are they spectators, participants, or something in between? What does it mean to witness such violence, and what role does it play in shaping collective identity and political consciousness? Van den Berge's print invites us to confront uncomfortable truths about power, justice, and the human capacity for cruelty, urging us to reflect on the legacies of violence that continue to shape our world.