Portret van Joost Hendrickzen 1604 - 1670

Crispijn van de Passe II created this engraving, titled "Portrait of Joost Hendrickzen," in the Netherlands. Religious reformers like Hendrickzen used printed images to spread their ideas, and this engraving functions as a kind of endorsement. Note the open book, the visual code of the scholar, the textual references to Hendrickzen's preaching, and the way the image seems to promote a message of moral reform and spiritual healing. The engraving thus situates Hendrickzen as part of a broader social and political context. In the 17th Century, the Dutch Republic was becoming a haven for religious tolerance, and the country's institutions such as the universities and the church, fostered intellectual debate and artistic expression. Artists and intellectuals played a crucial role in shaping public opinion. The interpretation of art is dependent on understanding its social and institutional context. By consulting historical documents, religious tracts, and other primary sources, we can develop a deeper understanding of its meaning.