Portret van Mohammed 1780

This is Jacob Houbraken's portrait of Mohammed, made in the 18th century with etching. Houbraken, working in the Dutch Republic during the Enlightenment, produced this image within a cultural context deeply engaged with cross-cultural exchange, but also fraught with religious and cultural biases. Consider how the portrayal of Mohammed, a central figure in Islam, by a European artist speaks to issues of representation and cultural appropriation. How does Houbraken, a Christian European artist, interpret and depict a figure from a different religious and cultural background? The inscription below the portrait identifies Mohammed's lineage, situating him within a specific historical and cultural context, but seen through a European lens. This image invites us to consider how historical depictions shape our understanding of different cultures and religions. It is not just a portrait, but a cultural artifact reflecting the complex relationship between Europe and the Islamic world during the Enlightenment.