Huibert Willemszoon van Eijken
Medium
etching
Dimensions
84; 111
About this artwork
Smid Huibert Willemszoon van Eijken verdedigt zijn werkplaats tegen Spanjaarden met degen en kruk. Zijn dochter knielt en bid tot God om het leven van haar vader te sparen. Hij zal uiteindelijk toch sneuvelen.
Art Historical Context
This intimate etching by Johannes Christiaan Bendorp captures a poignant moment of Dutch resistance. In the scene, blacksmith Huibert Willemszoon van Eijken stands defiantly in his workshop, sword and crutch in hand, fending off Spanish soldiers. His daughter kneels nearby in fervent prayer, her expression conveying both fear and hope. Though the print measures just 111 by 84 millimeters, its fine lines convey intense drama and emotion. Created in 1827, the work recalls episodes from the Eighty Years’ War, when ordinary Dutch citizens rose against Spanish rule. Bendorp chose the etching mediu...