Portret van Isaac Aboab da Fonseca 1686

This is Aernout Naghtegael’s portrait of Isaac Aboab da Fonseca, made with engraving tools sometime around 1725. Born in Portugal, Fonseca was a prominent rabbi and scholar who spent much of his life in Amsterdam after fleeing the Portuguese Inquisition. This portrait offers a glimpse into the complex identity of a man living in a time of religious persecution and migration. Fonseca, dressed in traditional garb, holds a book, symbolizing his scholarship and dedication to his faith amidst a shifting world. The inscriptions around the portrait in both Latin and Hebrew reflect the intersection of cultures and languages. The image captures a sense of dignity and resilience. Fonseca's gaze is direct, conveying strength and wisdom. It subtly emphasizes the tension between visibility and vulnerability experienced by those who had to navigate religious and cultural displacement during the early modern period.