Portret van Michael Havemann 1672 - 1699

This is Kaspar Schultze’s portrait of Michael Havemann, etched with striking detail. Dominating the image is the book held firmly in Havemann's hand. More than a mere object, it's a symbol, an attribute indicating knowledge and wisdom, essential virtues of a spiritual leader. This motif of holding a book has roots stretching back centuries, appearing in depictions of evangelists, prophets, and philosophers. Recall the ancient Greek philosophers, often portrayed with scrolls, emblems of their intellectual prowess. Even further back, consider the clay tablets of Mesopotamia, symbols of civilization’s dawn, each appearance imbued with a cultural significance that speaks to the timeless human pursuit of knowledge. The book is a subconscious trigger, an emotional and psychological bridge. This act of holding the book becomes a gesture of offering, a promise of enlightenment and truth that cycles and resurfaces, its meaning evolving yet its power undiminished.