Johannes Symoonisz. Torrentius

Johannes Torrentius (1589-1644)

Jan Simonsz. van der Beeck adopted the name Torrentius from the Latin 'torrens', a translation of the Dutch word 'beek' or stream. He acquired a notorious reputation for his many pornographic depictions. After being found guilty of obscene behaviour and blasphemy, his works were burned. One of his pornographic prints, however, seems to have escaped the bonfire: a picture of a couple making love, entitled 'Torrentius fecit': Torrentius made (this print).