Portret van Kaspar Manz op 30-jarige leeftijd 1640

Here we see Peter Troschel's engraving of Kaspar Manz, a man immortalized at thirty years of age. Note the book held in Manz's hands, a symbol of knowledge and scholarly pursuit. This motif has a long lineage, stretching back to ancient times. Consider the philosophers and evangelists depicted in classical and early Christian art, often shown with scrolls or codices, emblems of wisdom and divine revelation. The book, therefore, is not merely an object, but a potent signifier of intellectual and spiritual authority. Observe how this symbol has evolved: from sacred texts to secular knowledge, reflecting humanity’s shifting focus. Perhaps the act of holding a book speaks to a deeper, subconscious desire to grasp and contain knowledge itself. The book, like Manz's gaze, invites us to reflect on the enduring power of symbols to transcend time, carrying echoes of the past into the present.