Standbeeld van Erasmus op de Grotemarkt, Rotterdam 1859 - 1865

This stereoscopic photograph of the statue of Erasmus on the Grotemarkt in Rotterdam was created by Pieter Oosterhuis, though the exact date it was made is unknown. The statue itself, erected in 1622, embodies the complex relationship between intellectualism and civic identity in the Dutch Republic. Erasmus, a humanist philosopher, advocated for religious tolerance and critical thinking during the Reformation. In a time of intense religious conflict, Erasmus navigated a middle ground, emphasizing reason and dialogue. This photograph captures not just a monument, but an idea. It evokes the tension between the idealized virtues of the past and the everyday realities of the present. The statue stands in a public space, a site of collective memory and identity formation. Oosterhuis’s photograph invites reflection on the role of historical figures in shaping national narratives and the ongoing negotiation between tradition and modernity.