Study for an engraving of the Prodigal Son 1520

Albrecht Dürer's "Study for an engraving of the Prodigal Son" (1520) is a pen and ink drawing that depicts a scene from the biblical parable of the Prodigal Son. The drawing focuses on the moment the son, kneeling in the foreground, is surrounded by pigs, having fallen to such a low state after squandering his inheritance. Dürer's meticulous attention to detail is evident in the depiction of the figures and the landscape, creating a realistic and evocative image. This preliminary sketch, now housed in the British Museum, served as preparation for a later engraving.