De opwekking van de zoon van de weduwe te Nain 1590 - 1622

Boëtius Adamsz. Bolswert created this print of ‘The Raising of the Son of the Widow of Nain’. It’s a relatively small work, just 133 by 73 millimetres. This image visualises a story from the Gospel of Luke in which Jesus restores life to a widow's only son. Bolswert was working in the Netherlands at a time of religious and political conflict. Prints like this were often used to reinforce religious beliefs and assert particular views in the face of theological debate. The print employs strong visual codes. Notice the contrast between the dark, crowded scene on the left, representing death and mourning, and the brighter, more open space on the right, symbolising hope and resurrection. The artist invites the viewer to witness and celebrate Christ's miracle. To understand this print more fully, we could look at the history of religious imagery in the Netherlands, the role of printmaking in spreading religious ideas, and the social and political context of the time. This helps us to consider the complex relationship between art, belief, and power.