Doop der wederdopers, 1535 1657 - 1659

This engraving, made in 1535 by an anonymous artist, depicts an Anabaptist baptism. Anabaptism was a radical religious movement that spread through Europe during the Reformation, and its themes included adult baptism and communal living. The image creates meaning through the visual codes of clandestine religious practice. The figures crowd into a domestic space, and one man checks that the door is locked. This suggests that they are under threat and indeed, Anabaptists were widely persecuted at this time in the Netherlands, both by Catholics and Protestants. Their views on social equality and separation of church and state, along with their rejection of infant baptism, were seen as dangerous and seditious. The image is highly critical, portraying the Anabaptists as fanatical and disorderly. Historical sources such as pamphlets and trial records could provide further insight into the social and political context of this image. Art, here, becomes a tool in the struggle over religious and social norms.