Voorwoord bij de Grooten Emblemata Sacra 1653 - 1654

This is the foreword to the Grooten Emblemata Sacra, printed in the Netherlands, likely around the mid-17th century, by Jan Philipsz Schabaelje. The text presents a justification for the use of emblems – symbolic images accompanied by text – as tools for understanding scripture. It argues that images can sharpen one's understanding of the Holy Scripture, just as a well-made map helps one understand lands and cities. But it also warns against the misuse of imagery by the "light-minded." The book itself, as the title suggests, isn't just an emblem book, but aims to provide a more complete biblical history. To truly understand this work, we could delve into the religious and intellectual climate of the Dutch Golden Age, examining the role of emblem books in education and personal devotion. We can investigate the precise theological debates regarding the use of images in religious practice during the reformation. This requires historical methods to understand the meaning of art as contingent on context.