Portret van Johan Wessel Gansfoort 1654

This is Steven van Lamsweerde’s, Portrait of Johan Wessel Gansfoort, an engraving that was most likely made in the latter half of the 17th century. Van Lamsweerde was working in an era that was shaped by the rise of Dutch power. Here he depicts Gansfoort who was a prominent theologian and philosopher from the 15th century. The portrait shows Gansfoort adorned in what looks like clerical attire. The inscriptions framing the image emphasize Gansfoort’s intellectual and spiritual importance, which tells us about the high esteem in which intellectuals were held during the Dutch Golden Age. Interestingly, there's an attempt to immortalize Gansfoort through text and image. The print below the portrait, written by Gerh. Gansefoort, could be seen as an effort to keep his legacy alive. The work prompts us to think about the role of portraiture and engravings in constructing historical narratives and preserving cultural memory.