Portret van Johannes Leonius 1630 - 1654

This print of Johannes Leonius was created in the Netherlands, likely sometime around Leonius’ death in 1577. Leonius was a monk who wrote books of contemplation. Prints like this one served as visual propaganda during the religious conflicts of the period. The image of the pious monk, kneeling in contemplation with his rosary, presents an ideal of Catholic devotion, in contrast to the Protestant reformers. Even the books, crucifix, and light from above speak to this Catholic ideal. The text below identifies Leonius as a member of a monastery in Brussels. The print is an assertion of Catholic identity at a time when religious identities were unstable and contested. As historians, we can examine sources like religious pamphlets, institutional records, and even Inquisition documents to understand the social context that shaped images like this one. Only then can we understand the complex ways in which images reinforce or challenge social norms.