Marteldood van Jan de Bakker, 1525 1854 - 1856

Frans Molenaar created this lithograph entitled ‘Marteldood van Jan de Bakker, 1525’ in the 19th century. Molenaar was a Dutch artist who specialized in historical scenes, a genre which grew in popularity during this period. Here, Molenaar depicts the execution of Jan de Bakker, the first priest in the Netherlands to be martyred for his Protestant beliefs during the Reformation. As a historical genre scene, it is important to understand the dual layers of the work: the context of the original event, and of the artist’s depiction of it. Molenaar’s choice to depict the martyr hints at his own religious or political leanings, in a time when there was great division in Dutch society between Catholics and Protestants. The emotional intensity of the scene is palpable. The artist prompts us to reflect on themes of religious persecution, and the courage to stand up for one's beliefs, set against a broader backdrop of identity, religion, and power.