Door het geloof wordt de mens herboren - Dirck Volckertsz. Coornhert

A sixteenth-century Dutch engraving depicting an allegorical figure representing spiritual rebirth through faith, based on a design by Maarten van Heemskerck.

This engraving, titled 'Door het geloof wordt de mens herboren' (Man Reborn Through Faith), reflects the intellectual and theological climate of the sixteenth-century Netherlands. Dirck Volckertsz. Coornhert, a humanist, writer, and engraver, produced this work based on a design by Maarten van Heemskerck, as indicated by the 'Heemskerck inventor' inscription in the lower left corner. The print depicts a young, nude male figure standing amidst clouds, holding an open book in his right hand while gesturing upwards with his left. This posture suggests a transition from earthly existence to a state of spiritual renewal. The Latin inscription below, 'In homine iam renato apparet in dei fides', reinforces the theological theme of faith as the mechanism for human rebirth.

The visual execution follows the conventions of Northern Renaissance printmaking. The figure is rendered with clear, deliberate lines that define the musculature and the soft contours of the body. The background is kept minimal, consisting of light, horizontal hatching to suggest clouds, which keeps the focus entirely on the allegorical subject. The anatomical treatment of the figure, with its slightly elongated proportions and defined musculature, reflects the influence of Italian Mannerism, which Heemskerck encountered during his travels in Rome. Coornhert’s technique as an engraver is precise, using varied line weights to create a sense of volume and form within the figure. This work serves as an example of how print culture in the Low Countries functioned as a medium for disseminating complex theological and humanist ideas to a wider audience. The clarity of the composition and the directness of the iconography allow the viewer to engage with the philosophical message without unnecessary distraction. It remains a representative piece of the collaborative relationship between designers and engravers during this period.