The Prodigal Son 1491 - 1501

Albrecht Dürer created this print, "The Prodigal Son," during the vibrant, transformative period of the Northern Renaissance. The story of the prodigal son, drawn from the bible, resonated deeply within a society grappling with seismic shifts in religious and social structures. Here, we see the son brought low, kneeling among swine, his fine clothes disheveled. Stripped of his inheritance, he is face to face with his own moral and material poverty. Dürer masterfully depicts the emotional weight of the parable. The artist places the Biblical story in a contemporary, local setting. The farm is distinctly of Northern Europe, and the son's moral failing is set against the backdrop of ordinary life. Through his detailed rendering, Dürer asks us to reflect on themes of repentance, redemption, and the ever-present possibility of forgiveness. It's a potent reminder of our shared humanity, inviting us to consider our own journeys and the universal search for grace.