Gesprek met de Samaritaanse vrouw 1548

Dirck Volckertsz Coornhert created this print, "Conversation with the Samaritan Woman," during the Reformation, a time of profound religious and social upheaval in Europe. Coornhert, a controversial figure, was both a theologian and an engraver, and he uses this image to explore themes of religious encounter and social identity. The print depicts Jesus's meeting with a Samaritan woman at Jacob's Well. This was a transgressive encounter. Jewish men typically did not speak to women in public, and Jews and Samaritans were deeply divided. Yet, here they are, in conversation. Coornhert’s choice to depict this particular meeting underscores the Reformation’s challenge to religious norms. The Samaritan woman, often marginalized, is centered here, her identity as an outsider made visible. This challenges viewers to reconsider their own biases and to recognize the humanity in those deemed ‘other.’ As Coornhert was imprisoned for his beliefs, it’s tempting to think he felt some kinship with the outsider. The print is more than a biblical scene, it reflects on the personal and political dimensions of faith.