Ontsnapping van de zeven remonstrantse predikanten uit slot Loevestein, 1631 1780 - 1795

Reinier Vinkeles etched this print depicting the escape of seven Remonstrant ministers from Loevestein Castle in 1631. The moon, a silent witness to their covert flight, casts an ethereal glow on the scene. The boat, a vessel of salvation, becomes a recurring motif throughout history. Think of Charon's boat ferrying souls across the River Styx, or the ship of the church navigating the seas of life. Here, the ministers seek not passage to the afterlife, but a return to earthly freedom, guided by the moon’s gentle light. Consider the psychological weight of the moon: for centuries, it has been associated with hidden aspects of our psyche, with clandestine acts and the unveiling of the subconscious. Here, the moonlit escape becomes an emotionally charged symbol for the enduring human desire for freedom of thought, constantly reappearing and reshaping itself throughout the annals of time.