Naaktloper Dirk Jansz. 1699 - 1701

Romeyn de Hooghe created this print titled "Naaktloper Dirk Jansz."—or "The Naked Runner Dirk Jansz."— likely sometime between 1672-1708, a period marked by political upheaval in the Dutch Republic. This print captures Dirk Jansz., a member of the Mennonite religious group, being chased naked through the streets. Mennonites, part of the Anabaptist movement, faced persecution for their beliefs, including their rejection of infant baptism and emphasis on personal faith. De Hooghe’s image shows Jansz. as an outlier, in a vulnerable state, against the backdrop of a hostile society. By depicting Jansz. unclothed, de Hooghe strips him of social status, emphasizing his powerlessness. The chasing crowd, composed mostly of women, adds a gendered dimension to the persecution, suggesting the involvement of the broader community in enforcing social norms. This print vividly illustrates the social and religious tensions of the time. It's a stark reminder of how those who dared to challenge societal norms were often ostracized and made spectacles of.