Kindermoord te Betlehem, linksboven 1668 - 1693

This print, titled "Massacre of the Innocents", was made by an anonymous artist in the Netherlands. The image depicts infanticide by order of King Herod as told in the Gospel of Matthew. It invites us to contemplate not only the biblical story but also its function in Dutch culture. This work exists in the context of the Dutch Golden Age. It reflects the Protestant culture of the Netherlands in its emphasis on the Bible. The inclusion of the classical architecture references the cultural fashion for Classicism as promoted by artistic institutions of the time. The image also draws on earlier traditions of printmaking in the Netherlands, when images were widely circulated and affordable to the middle class. It evokes the history of political strife in the Low Countries, when printmaking played a crucial role in spreading political messages. To understand it better, we might look to period writings or institutional records to understand the cultural landscape of the time. In doing so, we recognize that art making is always tied to specific historical contexts and social conditions.