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The Strappado

Gerrit van Schagen

1642

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Baroque Baroque Allegory

Dominant colour

The Strappado is a 1642 ink by Gerrit van Schagen, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Gerrit van Schagen
When & what style?: 1642 · Baroque
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This black-and-white scene shows a big crowd in a town square. Soldiers in armor hold a man up by his arms, tied to a rope. Others watch or talk nearby. Buildings with steep roofs and towers line the street. The man’s feet don’t touch the ground—he’s dangling. The text below is in French, calling out liars and traitors. This kind of punishment was real but brutal. Want to know more? Look up etching to see how artists made prints like this.