The Road to Emmaus 1600 - 1655

Claes Moeyaert created this red chalk drawing, "The Road to Emmaus," in the Netherlands sometime in the first half of the 17th century. It depicts a scene from the Gospel of Luke, in which the resurrected Christ appears to two disciples on their way to Emmaus. Moeyaert was working during the Dutch Golden Age, a period of immense economic growth and cultural flourishing for the Netherlands. The Dutch Republic was also unique in Europe for its relative religious toleration. So, while the story of the Road to Emmaus would have been familiar to most viewers, its treatment here is striking for its humanism. Christ is not depicted in a divine light but as a fellow traveler. For art historians, Moeyaert's drawing offers a glimpse into the visual culture of the Dutch Golden Age, reflecting the social and religious values of the time. Careful research into period literature, sermons, and other visual sources can shed light on the drawing's meaning and significance. The meaning of this art is thus always contingent on its historical context.