De zielenvisserij: allegorie op de ijverzucht van de verschillende religies tijdens het Twaalfjarig Bestand tussen de Nederlandse Republiek en Spanje c. 1860 - 1900

Johannes Arnoldus Boland created this allegory of religious rivalry during the Twelve Years' Truce between the Dutch Republic and Spain. This period was a brief respite in the Eighty Years' War, a time rife with political and religious tensions as different factions competed for influence. Look closely and you will see boats representing different religions trying to catch souls from the water. Those on the banks watch, some eager to join, others wary of the chaotic scene. The water is crowded with people struggling, a powerful metaphor for the confusion and conflict caused by religious division. Boland uses the visual language to critique the zealousness of religious institutions, highlighting the human cost of ideological battles. The drawing reflects a society grappling with questions of identity, faith, and belonging. It makes you wonder about the personal stories of those caught in this religious tug-of-war, and how they navigated such turbulent times.