Portret van Ulrich Zwingli 1599

Hendrick Hondius I created this engraving of Ulrich Zwingli sometime between 1573 and 1650. Zwingli was a key figure in the Swiss Reformation, a movement that radically transformed European society and religious life. Hondius’s portrait captures the starkness of Zwingli’s convictions. His profile, set against a plain background, emphasizes his austere commitment to his theological principles. The Latin text inscribed below the image highlights Zwingli's dedication to both God and country, suggesting a life of piety and sacrifice. In the context of the Reformation, a challenge to the entrenched power of the Catholic Church, this image takes on added resonance. Zwingli’s story is a powerful example of how personal belief can ignite broader social and political change, and Hondius’s portrait immortalizes this struggle. The work encourages us to reflect on the relationship between faith, identity, and the courage to challenge established norms, reminding us of the profound impact that individuals can have on the course of history.