Portret van Menno Simons 1615 - 1680

Abraham de Cooge made this engraving of Menno Simons, the influential Anabaptist religious leader, sometime in the 17th century. It offers insights into the cultural and religious landscape of the Dutch Golden Age. The image presents Simons as a scholar, deeply engaged with religious texts. His direct gaze and the open book suggest an invitation to the viewer to engage with his teachings. Made in the Netherlands, a region known for its religious tolerance at the time, this engraving reflects the ongoing debates and discussions surrounding religious reform and the establishment of new denominations. We might think about how the print medium allowed for Simons’s image and ideas to be disseminated widely. To understand this artwork fully, we must delve into the history of the Reformation, the rise of Anabaptism, and the social and political context of the Dutch Republic.