Portrait of Theodorus Schrevelius 1617

Frans Hals captured Theodorus Schrevelius with oil on panel, immortalizing the sitter holding a book. This book is no mere prop, but a symbol of knowledge. The book is inscribed with "AETA 44, 1616" which indicates the sitter's age and year in which this work was made. Note how the act of holding a book dates back to antiquity, signifying wisdom, learning, and scholarly authority. This symbolic act extends from the ancient philosophers with their scrolls to the Renaissance scholars with their folios, each bearing the weight of intellect. Think of how the simple act of holding a book becomes an emotional and psychological bridge that connects Schrevelius to a lineage of thinkers. Over time, the book and the act of reading has been a recurring theme. The meaning, however, becomes secularized, representing humanism, enlightenment, and the power of individual intellect. This non-linear progression of symbols resurfaces, evolves, and takes on new meanings in different historical contexts.