Portret van Laurens Jansz. Coster 17th century

This anonymous 17th-century woodcut portrait depicts Laurens Jansz Coster, a Haarlem councilman. The image, only 104mm by 85mm, shows Coster standing behind a plaque inscribed with his name and the year 1440. This inscription references the traditional, though disputed, attribution of Coster as the inventor of printing. The woodcut's simple lines and stark contrasts create a striking portrait that is both historical and symbolic.