I have always been fascinated by Spinoza's ideas. When I started to read more about him it turned out that he also had a very interesting life. He was way ahead of his time with his way of thinking. Even though it cost him his money, family, and even put his life in danger, he never shied from proclaiming his revolutionary ideas. Everything comes together in the life and work of Spinoza: philosophy, religion, politics, ethics, but above all an enormous willpower and love for the truth. That's why I chose him. In addition, Amsterdam in the Golden Age is of course a wonderful backdrop for a comic. ”- from interview with cartoonist Jaron Beekes on StripTip

translated from https://boekenoverboeken.com/index.php/de-lens-van-spinoza-een-graphic-novel-over-nederlands-grootste-filosoof

Jaron Beekes lives and works in the Netherlands, where he studied Cultural Sciences (VU), Illustration Design (HKU) and Image & Language (Gerrit Rietveld Academy). He creates illustrations for magazines, posters and flyers and has a weekly cartoon in Folia. Beekes is also a reviewer for Nieuw Israëlitisch Weekblad, the Jewish Broadcasting Company and Metropolis M. He also works for the TV show Dwars door de Diaspora, and has made graphic novels about the lives of philosopher Spinoza (De lens van Spinoza) and Beatles manager Brian Epstein (Epstein), published by Oog & Blik.