What can a philosopher from the 17th century teach us about war, faith and memory? Lennard Hoffmann, Research Associate at the Dresden State Art Collections, spent a RESILIENCE TNA research stay at the J.A. Comenius in Uherský Brod (Czech Republic) for the preparation of the 2026 exhibition “Fragments of Memory” at Prague Castle.
Curious about what drove this research journey? We asked Lennard Hoffmann to tell us more:
Why do you think it’s important to revisit this period of history today, especially through art and museum exhibitions?
Although religion has gradually lost much of its former significance, the religious freedom we enjoy today remains something we would never want to lose. It is difficult for many to imagine the military conflicts that were once fought among Christians of different denominations simply over the right to live out their beliefs. In the Early Modern era especially, religious and political issues were inextricably linked. Museum exhibitions are invaluable for exploring this time period from a variety of perspectives. Through their visual components and the many educational resources they can draw on, exhibitions can make complex subjects accessible to a broad audience. It is essential that we understand the lines of development that have shaped the foundations of our societies today. Yet, exhibitions should not aim to provide definitive answers, but rather to inspire curiosity and encourage questioning among visitors of all ages.
How did your time at the Comenius Museum in Uherský Brod enrich your understanding of the religious and cultural shifts during the Thirty Years’ War?
The Thirty Years’ War is arguably one of the most fascinating periods in human history. Hardly any other conflict was influenced by so many regional and international issues spanning several centuries. On the eve of the war, the Kingdom of Bohemia in particular was plagued by widespread religious and political unrest. Even four hundred years after the war began, researchers continue to explore new questions and helping us gain a better understanding of that time. A remarkable discovery that reignited research interest was the the spectacular find of a chest containing several hundred documents from the first half of the 17th century in Mladá Boleslav in 2006. These sources, now compiled under the title Archiv Matouše Konečného, allow us to draw a more detailed picture of the political and religious fragmentation in Early Modern Bohemia and Moravia. Accordingly, they were the focus of my work during my stay in Uherský Brod.
How did RESILIENCE and the TNA programme support your research?
I am deeply grateful for the support provided by the TNA programme and the experts of the Comenius Museum in Uherský Brod. This gratitude extends not only to their organisational assistance but, above all, to the creation of an environment of open exchange and consultation. While on site, I received invaluable help in identifying relevant literature and in approaching the sources of the Archiv Matouše Konečného with scholarly and critical rigour. This greatly enriched my understanding of both the material itself and the broader historical context of the actors and environment surrounding Jan Amos Comenius.
The opportunity to draw upon the library holdings and scholarly expertise in another country would not have been possible without the invaluable support of RESILIENCE and the TNA programme. I therefore wish to express my heartfelt thanks to Lenka Pospíšilová, Petr Zemek, Radek Tomeček (Comenius Museum), as well as to Alexandra Nusser and Lieneke Timpers (RESILIENCE).
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Thank you very much for this interview, Lennard Hoffmann! We wish you all the best for your research.
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