Schrijfvoorbeeld met de tekst: Beproeft uwe vrienden (...) 1618

This calligraphic page was made by Lieven Willemsz. Coppenol, an Amsterdam schoolmaster and celebrated penman, sometime in the mid-17th century. During this time, calligraphy was not just about writing; it was a performance of skill, a visual rhetoric. Notice the opening phrase, "Beproeft uwe vrienden," or "Test your friends." This moral imperative, rendered in elegant flourishes, speaks to the social values of the Dutch Golden Age, where community and reputation were paramount. The elaborate script and ornamental design signal not just literacy but a level of cultural sophistication. This performance of mastery is about the making of identity and place. The act of writing itself—the careful strokes, the controlled hand—mirrors the self-discipline and moral rectitude valued in Dutch society. Coppenol's work reminds us that even the most decorative arts can carry profound social and ethical weight. It’s about the performance of perfection when, in fact, the imperfections may be the most telling thing.