Landschap met kluizenaars 1590 - 1633

Boëtius Adamsz. Bolswert created this small print, "Landscape with Hermits", using engraving. Bolswert situates us within a dense forest, a place traditionally associated with spiritual retreat. Solitary hermits populate the scene, each absorbed in their devotional practice. These hermits, however, were men who actively chose to withdraw from society in order to strengthen their relationship with God, which was perceived as the ultimate form of patriarchal masculinity. While their choice may seem radical, it reaffirms the gendered structures of their time. The print includes a Latin inscription which translates to, "I am become like a pelican of the wilderness." This quote from Psalm 102, evokes a sense of loneliness and isolation but also implies a chosen separation from the world to be closer to God. Consider how such imagery might shape one's understanding of solitude, devotion, and the complex interplay of choice and tradition.