Portret van Dirk Volkertsz Coornhert 1853 - 1855

Jan Frederik Christiaan Reckleben made this print of Dirk Volkertsz Coornhert, though the date of its making is unknown. Coornhert was a Dutch writer, philosopher, translator, politician and artist who lived between 1522 and 1590. In this print, Coornhert is presented as a bust portrait, centrally placed, his name clearly inscribed on a plinth below. The print, held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, is an example of 19th-century Dutch printmaking and displays the kind of visual language typical of this period. The image serves as a historical document, immortalizing Coornhert, who was a key figure during the Reformation. He advocated for religious tolerance and humanism, which were progressive views at the time. Understanding the cultural and intellectual environment of the 16th century, as well as the artistic practices of 19th-century Dutch printmakers, helps us appreciate how Reckleben consciously framed Coornhert within a specific historical narrative. By looking at the institutions, the politics and the culture that both Coornhert and Reckleben inhabited, we come to understand how images create meaning through visual codes and historical associations.