Prentbijbel met voorstellingen uit het Oude en Nieuwe Testament 1585 - 1600

This Prentbijbel, or illustrated Bible, with images from the Old and New Testaments, was made by Gerard de Jode, a printmaker in the Netherlands, sometime in the late 16th century. The Prentbijbel was produced in a culture deeply affected by religious and political upheaval during the Reformation. This was a time when the printing press made images and ideas accessible to a wider public than ever before. The imagery within this Bible would have been understood in relation to debates around religious doctrine, the role of the Church, and the interpretation of scripture. Consider how the images within this book work. Do they serve to reinforce traditional religious authority, or do they reflect new interpretations and challenges to the status quo? The historical context of the artwork is crucial to understanding its meaning, requiring a deep dive into the religious, social, and political conditions of the time, and to the institutional history of the Church and of printing itself.