De verloren zoon verkwist zijn geld 1595 - 1625

This engraving, “The Prodigal Son Squandering His Money,” was made by Johann Gelle around the year 1616. Look closely, and you’ll see it's an image wrought by the meticulous, painstaking process of carving lines into a metal plate. Gelle’s detailed lines create a scene of chaos. The artist’s labor-intensive method underscores the moral of the story: the path to ruin is paved with indulgence. See how the artist's skilled work renders the figures: the son is beset by Poverty, Labor, and Misery. Above, the figure of fleeting pleasure rides a storm cloud, indifferent to his plight. Consider the social context of this print: the history of the prodigal son was often used in sermons of the time, intended as warnings about the dangers of moral excess. The work of Gelle reinforces that message, using the craft of printmaking to amplify a story about labor, loss, and potential redemption.