Jan Luyken

Jan Luyken (born April 16, 1649, Amsterdam, Neth.—died April 5, 1712, Amsterdam) was a Dutch lithographer and poet whose work ranges from hedonistic love songs to introspective religious poetry.

As a young man, Luyken published De duyste lier (1671; “German Lyric”), a volume of erotic poetry. He was married in 1672 and baptized in the Baptist church the following year. Influenced by the writings of the German mystic Jakob Böhme, Luyken embraced pietistic Christianity. He worked as a book illustrator but became increasingly ascetic and began to withdraw from society. His later poetry, including Jezus en de ziel (1678; “Jesus and the Soul”), was inspired by his mystical vision of life. Luyken left Amsterdam in 1699 but returned in 1705. He died in poverty.