Portret van Martin Luther 1739 - 1791

This is Johanna Dorothea Sysang’s etched portrait of Martin Luther. Here, Luther is captured in a moment of contemplation, quill in hand, a symbol of his prolific writing and the spread of his revolutionary ideas. Consider the book prominently displayed. It signifies not just knowledge but also the cornerstone of the Reformation: the Bible. It recalls the act of translation that put scripture in the hands of the people. The act of writing itself is an ancient symbol, evoking the power to record, disseminate, and challenge. We see it echoed through the ages, from the scribes of ancient Egypt to the Enlightenment philosophers, each using the written word to shape thought and action. The image resonates with collective memory, speaking to the profound shifts in religious and intellectual life sparked by Luther's defiance. This single figure, enshrined with simple symbols, captures the emotional and psychological intensity of a world in transformation. These symbols are not static; they evolve, resurface, and are continuously reinterpreted, carrying forward through time.