Zwei jüdische Schriftgelehrte c. 1608 - 1609

Roelant Savery created this delicate drawing of two Jewish scholars, likely in the early 17th century. At this time, artists in the Netherlands were part of a culture of tolerance with a relatively large Jewish population, particularly in Amsterdam. This drawing, made after a work by Pieter Lastman, allows us to reflect on the place of Jewish people in Dutch society. Savery’s depiction presents the men with dignity and respect, a marked contrast to the antisemitic caricatures common elsewhere in Europe. By portraying them as learned figures engaged with religious texts, Savery challenges prevailing stereotypes. Note the choice of costume, carefully rendering the clothing and distinctive hats, which serves to further emphasize their unique identity. This kind of image could only have been made in the Netherlands. Understanding the social context allows us to appreciate the subtle ways in which artists like Savery participated in broader cultural conversations, offering alternative visions of marginalized communities.