Naaktlopers te Amsterdam, 1535 1657 - 1659

This anonymous etching, "Naaktlopers te Amsterdam, 1535," depicts a group of naked figures running through the streets of Amsterdam, with a building ablaze in the background. The image creates meaning through its stark depiction of nudity, contrasting with the architectural setting. Made in the Netherlands during a period of religious and social upheaval, this etching likely comments on the Anabaptist movement. In 1535, radical Anabaptists, known for their belief in adult baptism and communal living, staged a naked procession through Amsterdam to signify spiritual purity and rejection of worldly possessions. The burning building perhaps symbolizes the destruction of the old order. Understanding this artwork requires historical research into the religious and social context of 16th-century Amsterdam. By examining pamphlets, chronicles, and other visual representations of the Anabaptist movement, we can begin to understand the complex politics of imagery and the ways in which art reflects the social conditions of its time.