Jan van Leiden te paard 1792

Daniel Nikolaus Chodowiecki created this print, Jan van Leiden te paard. It depicts the 16th-century Anabaptist leader, Jan van Leiden, on horseback, followed by a procession of people. Chodowiecki was a child of the Enlightenment and, like many artists of his time, he was interested in the narratives of history and the human condition. This print offers us a window into the religious and social upheavals of the Reformation. Jan van Leiden was a controversial figure. He was seen by his followers as a prophet, but by others as a heretic. Notice how Chodowiecki portrays him. He’s elevated, literally, above the crowd, suggesting a position of power, but perhaps also isolation. The expressions of those following him are ambiguous. Are they in awe, or are they burdened? This print invites us to reflect on the complexities of religious fervor, leadership, and the ways in which historical figures are remembered and represented. It reminds us that history is never a simple story but a collection of perspectives.