Portret van Georg Cassander 1657 - 1707

Hendrik Bary made this print of Georg Cassander sometime between 1640 and 1707. Cassander lived in the 16th century amidst the religious conflicts of the Reformation. Educated in the Netherlands, he dedicated himself to reconciling Catholic and Protestant theologies. This portrait captures Cassander's commitment to bridging divides. His clothing reflects the somber tone of a scholar, while the inscription beneath the image expresses a desire for unity. It translates as, "When will the church finally beat that path in?" In this way, the print immortalizes Cassander's intellectual pursuits, but also hints at the emotional toll of working toward religious reconciliation in a fractious time. Prints such as this one allowed for the broad circulation of Cassander's image and ideas in a society grappling with shifting religious identities, and remind us of the individuals who sought common ground during times of deep division.