Portret van Thomas Muntzer 1608 - 1677

This engraving by Christoffel van Sichem I portrays Thomas Müntzer, a theologian of the early Reformation. Note the open book under Müntzer's finger; it's a symbol of knowledge and divine inspiration, yet here it also speaks to a revolutionary interpretation of scripture. Consider the act of pointing: throughout art history, from ancient Roman orators to Renaissance depictions of saints, a pointed finger often signifies authority, direction, or judgment. Müntzer's gesture, however, takes on a subversive dimension. He uses the book not for conventional teaching but to ignite a peasant uprising, challenging established religious and social orders. Observe, too, the background depicting a battle. This inclusion transforms the portrait into a commentary on Müntzer’s activism. The image thus engages our collective memory, stirring complex emotions about religious conviction and social upheaval. It reminds us that symbols are never static. They evolve, carrying echoes of past struggles into the present.