Portret van Dirck Volckertsz. Coornhert 1671 - 1677

Anthony van Zijlvelt created this print of Dirck Volckertsz. Coornhert, probably in the Dutch Republic sometime between 1660 and 1715. It embodies some key tensions in Dutch society at the time. Coornhert, the subject, was a writer and political philosopher, well known for advocating individual liberty. The tension comes in here. The Dutch Republic was proud of its tradition of relative tolerance, yet it also had strong religious institutions that enforced strict moral codes. Coornhert challenged these codes by questioning the power of the church and State. This image, therefore, can be seen as a political statement in itself. By depicting Coornhert, Zijlvelt is making a statement about intellectual freedom. To understand this work more deeply, we can examine the writings of Coornhert himself, as well as records from the institutions that he challenged.