Verzoeking van Christus 1590 - 1622

"Verzoeking van Christus," or "The Temptation of Christ," is a print made by Boëtius Adamsz. Bolswert, and it resides here at the Rijksmuseum. Bolswert’s print depicts the biblical story of Christ’s temptation, set against the backdrop of a landscape filled with symbolic animals. It reflects the religious and cultural norms of 17th-century Europe, while it subtly develops alternative narratives. Christ is at its center, seated under a tree, seemingly deep in contemplation. He is flanked by images depicting his temptation by the devil. I want you to consider how Bolswert uses images from nature to suggest the internal struggles between faith and doubt. What does it mean to position Christ in such close proximity to animals, some of which have long been seen as symbols of evil? This print functions as a mirror, reflecting the personal dimensions of spiritual contemplation while also shaping broader religious understanding.