Portret van Johan van Oldenbarnevelt 1657 - 1707

Hendrik Bary produced this print of Johan van Oldenbarnevelt sometime between 1640 and 1707. It offers insight into the fraught politics of the Dutch Republic. Oldenbarnevelt was a leading statesman in the Netherlands during the Eighty Years' War, advocating for Dutch independence from Spain. As Advocate of Holland, he wielded immense power, but his support for religious tolerance put him at odds with strict Calvinists and the stadtholder, Prince Maurice of Orange. The print, with its formal pose and emphasis on Oldenbarnevelt's status, reflects the visual codes of power. Yet, it was made after his execution for treason in 1619. Prints like this one served as a form of political memory, preserving the image of a controversial figure long after his death. To understand the print's full significance, we need to delve into the complex religious and political landscape of the 17th-century Netherlands, consulting historical documents, pamphlets, and other visual representations of the period.