Zinneprent met gevangenneming van Hugo de Groot 1791

Cornelis de Jonker created this print, "Zinneprent met gevangenneming van Hugo de Groot," using an etching technique. De Jonker was working during a time when the legacy of the Dutch Golden Age was being reconsidered, and national identity was being renegotiated. The print depicts Hugo de Groot's imprisonment, framed by allegorical figures and symbols. De Groot, a key figure in Dutch history, was imprisoned for his Remonstrant beliefs, which challenged the dominant Calvinist theology. The scene captures the tension between religious doctrine and individual conscience. Notice how the decorative elements, such as the cherubs and ornate flourishes, contrast with the somber subject matter. This juxtaposition invites reflection on how power and authority were visually represented during this period. It is a symbolic representation of a crucial moment in Dutch history, one that touches upon themes of justice, freedom, and the price of dissent.