Gelijkenis van het koninklijke bruiloftsfeest: de man zonder feestkleding wordt bestraft 1585

This engraving, titled *Gelijkenis van het koninklijke bruiloftsfeest: de man zonder feestkleding wordt bestraft*, was created by an anonymous artist. Here, a biblical parable is presented in visual form, likely reflecting the religious and moral values prevalent at the time. The man without appropriate attire being punished, highlights societal expectations around decorum, but perhaps also reveals deeper anxieties about belonging and exclusion. The absence of wedding garments might symbolize a lack of spiritual preparation or moral fitness, in line with period interpretations of religious texts. But consider this from the punished man’s perspective: what socio-economic factors prevented access to the appropriate attire? How does this image portray the intersection of morality, class, and acceptance? The engraving invites us to consider the nature of judgment, and the tension between divine standards and earthly realities. This artwork, ultimately, compels reflection on the conditions under which we extend or withhold belonging.