Verkeerde overtuiging vervreemdt de wereld van de waarheid 1575 - 1581

Editor: "Verkeerde overtuiging vervreemdt de wereld van de waarheid," or "False conviction alienates the world from the truth," created between 1575 and 1581 by Dirck Volckertsz Coornhert. This engraving at the Rijksmuseum presents a rather unsettling scene, a central figure caught between Opinc, Opinion, and Veritas, Truth, ready to strike downwards. How should we interpret this politically charged composition? Curator: The image speaks to the tumultuous period of religious and political upheaval in the Netherlands. Coornhert, a humanist and political theorist, was deeply concerned with issues of justice and freedom of conscience. Look at the figure with the sword. To whom does his attire refer? And consider the setting—not some timeless landscape, but one pregnant with moral danger. This isn't merely a personal drama; it reflects a societal crisis. Editor: His cap makes me think of folly; he seems blinded, ready to destroy something precious perhaps, positioned as he is between what’s presented as opinion and truth. The object beneath him seems to hold a skull or another object. This imagery of division—the opposing figures of Opinion and Truth—are compelling in a terrifying way! Curator: Precisely. The print critiques the dogmatic convictions that lead to violence and injustice. Consider the role of the viewer in this allegory. Coornhert isn't simply depicting a scene; he is asking us to examine our own beliefs and prejudices and, perhaps more importantly, the beliefs perpetuated by socio-political structures. Editor: So, it’s a call to self-reflection, framed within the context of the Dutch Revolt and religious persecution? It is incredible how Coornhert’s commentary then resonates even today. Curator: Indeed. The print’s enduring power lies in its ability to provoke critical thinking about the relationship between power, belief, and truth, while asking us who we would cast our lots with.