Margaretha van Beieren ingesloten door krijgslieden

About this artwork

plaatrand: hoogte 141 mm x breedte 96 mm

Art Historical Context

This 1776 etching by Simon Fokke captures a tense historical moment titled “Margaretha van Beieren ingesloten door krijgslieden” (“Margaret of Bavaria Enclosed by Soldiers”). The small print, measuring just 141 by 96 millimeters, presents the Bavarian noblewoman surrounded by armed men, suggesting a scene of captivity or confrontation drawn from medieval Low Countries history. Fokke, an accomplished eighteenth-century Dutch printmaker, specialized in such narrative subjects, using etching to translate dramatic episodes for a growing audience of print collectors and readers. Etching allowed Fokke to render fine lines and subtle shading that heighten the sense of urgency in the composition. The compact format indicates the work was likely intended for book illustration or a series of historical prints, making distant events accessible to eighteenth-century viewers. Through economical yet expressive line work, the image invites reflection on power, vulnerability, and the often turbulent lives of noblewomen in earlier centuries.

About the Artist

Simon Fokke · 1712–1784

Comment on works: Draugstman; Portrait