Standbeeld van Erasmus, op Grote Markt te Rotterdam 1791

This print by Pieter Hendrik Jonxis depicts a statue of Erasmus, likely created around the same period. Erasmus, captured in the act of reading, is a potent symbol of humanist scholarship and intellectual freedom, core values of the Renaissance. The motif of a figure immersed in reading finds echoes across time and cultures. Consider the ancient Greek philosophers depicted in similar poses, scrolls in hand, or even religious figures absorbed in sacred texts. The book itself becomes an emblem of knowledge and enlightenment. The act of reading, as portrayed here, is not merely a passive intake of information, but an active engagement with ideas. It is a gesture laden with the power to transform both the individual and society. This image stirs our collective memory, reminding us of the enduring quest for understanding that defines the human spirit. Note how this symbol of learning persists, evolving through history, yet forever linked to the pursuit of wisdom.