Gruwelen in de Joodse Oorlog: een vrouw met het hoofd van een kind op een schotel 1804

Reinier Vinkeles rendered this pen and wash drawing titled "Gruwelen in de Joodse Oorlog: een vrouw met het hoofd van een kind op een schotel" sometime in the late 18th century. It presents a scene of profound horror: a mother presenting the head of her child on a platter. This grim image echoes throughout history. We may recall the ancient myth of Medea, who killed her children, or the biblical story of Salome, whose request for John the Baptist’s head led to his execution. Here, the act of presenting a severed head carries layers of meaning. It symbolizes not only death but also betrayal, sacrifice, and the depths of human despair. The emotional impact is palpable. The gesture of the man with his hands on his head conveys shock, disbelief, and perhaps a deeper understanding of the cyclical nature of violence and the depths of human suffering. We see how symbols like this do not simply vanish; they resurface, carrying with them echoes of past traumas, evolving and adapting.