Portret van Isaac da Costa 1847 - 1860

Adrianus Johannes Ehnle created this print of Isaac da Costa in the Netherlands in the mid-19th century. Da Costa was a Jewish intellectual, well known for his poetry and his role in the Dutch Réveil movement, a conservative religious revival with international connections. In this image, Da Costa is depicted in a style that suggests a man of serious intellectual and social standing. The formal attire, the careful shading, and even the inclusion of his signature create an impression of authority. This image was made at a time of great change in Dutch society. The old certainties of religion were beginning to break down under pressure from the Enlightenment. It is worth remembering that, until 1796, Jews were restricted in where they could live and what professions they could hold. Da Costa's own conversion to Christianity reflects these social pressures. Understanding this print requires research into the history of Jewish emancipation in the Netherlands, the dynamics of religious conversion, and the networks of the Réveil movement. The image offers a window into a world of social transformation.