Kindermoord te Betlehem, linksboven 1668 - 1693

This etching, titled "Kindermoord te Betlehem, linksboven" (The Massacre of the Innocents in Bethlehem, top left), depicts a scene from the Bible. The anonymous artist, working between 1668 and 1693, used dramatic detail to illustrate the tragic story of King Herod's order to kill all male infants in Bethlehem. In the foreground, the carnage is depicted, with soldiers violently attacking innocent children. Above, three angels ascend to heaven, one carrying a child in their arms. The ruined buildings and somber atmosphere create a chilling backdrop for the event, highlighting the cruelty and tragedy of the massacre. This etching is currently held in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.