Foltering met verschillende manieren van verbranden 1565 - 1630

Curator: Today, we’re looking at "Foltering met verschillende manieren van verbranden," an engraving by Antonio Tempesta, likely created sometime between 1565 and 1630. It's currently housed here at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: Yikes. That's a lot of…enthusiasm for fire. It’s quite a dramatic, busy composition—in a dark and disturbing way, obviously. There’s this chaotic energy, fueled by flames and suffering bodies, all etched in incredibly fine detail. Curator: The artwork depicts different methods of execution by burning, which was not uncommon in the Early Modern period. Prints like these served various functions: they documented contemporary legal punishments, catered to popular taste for sensationalized violence, and reflected the baroque sensibilities. Editor: Sensation is the right word! It's hard to ignore how the scene almost fetishizes the torture. I mean, look at the precise details used to show agony…it’s theatrical. I find myself wondering what purpose this image really served back then and whether the violence has any historical roots. Curator: The print illustrates the use of fire as a tool of power and control during that period. Authorities routinely deployed public spectacles of violence to enforce religious conformity, suppress social unrest, and reinforce the state’s legitimacy. In other words, such images visually disseminate the message, 'This is what happens if you cross the line.’ Editor: Knowing that historical context, the composition starts making a lot more sense. It feels less like a sadistic fantasy and more like propaganda...albeit, still pretty disturbing propaganda. Even today it has a sobering reminder of the history of control and the use of suffering as public performance. Curator: Indeed. While visually arresting, Tempesta’s "Foltering met verschillende manieren van verbranden" serves as an artifact documenting our painful past, prompting critical engagement with power dynamics and violence in society. Editor: For me, It makes you question what's changed – and, more importantly, what hasn't – regarding state control and brutality.