Godsdienst reikt Vrede de hand 1657 - 1707

Hendrik Bary made this print, "Religion Offers Peace a Hand," in the Netherlands sometime between 1640 and 1707. It allegorically represents religion and peace, two concepts that were deeply intertwined during the Dutch Golden Age. Prints like this circulated widely and so were key to forming public opinion. Here, Bary uses classical imagery, like the idealized figures and draped clothing, to evoke a sense of timeless harmony. Peace, holding an olive branch, clasps hands with Religion, who leans on a symbolic pillar. The composition suggests a desired social order rooted in religious tolerance and stability, values championed by the Dutch Republic. To truly understand this print, we need to consider the historical context. Research into the religious and political climate of the Dutch Golden Age provides a richer appreciation of how images such as this one were intended to comment on the social structures of their time.