Gezicht op de Kloveniersdoelen te Dordrecht waar de Nationale Synode is gehouden in 1618-1619 1736

Leonard Schenk created this print, "Gezicht op de Kloveniersdoelen te Dordrecht waar de Nationale Synode is gehouden in 1618-1619," using etching. The Kloveniersdoelen, or militia hall, in Dordrecht hosted the National Synod, a pivotal event in Dutch Reformed Church history. This gathering was intensely political, addressing religious and state governance issues, reflecting the intersection of church and state. Consider the figures populating Schenk’s print: they are primarily from the middle and upper classes, a deliberate choice reflecting who held power and influence. Notice that the lives and perspectives of the lower classes are notably absent. This reflects the societal norms of the time. Ultimately, Schenk’s print invites us to reflect on who is included and excluded from historical narratives. It subtly questions whose stories are deemed worthy of representation and remembrance.