Gelijkenis van de ondankbare dienstknecht 1629

"Gelijkenis van de ondankbare dienstknecht" (Parable of the Unforgiving Servant), a 1629 etching by Dutch artist Christoffel van (II) Sichem, depicts a scene from the Gospel of Matthew (18:23-35). In the foreground, a man is being forced to pay a large debt by a group of men while a seated figure in a throne-like chair observes. The background shows another scene of a man being taken to a place of punishment. This small-scale etching, housed at the Rijksmuseum, is a fine example of the 17th-century Dutch tradition of illustrating biblical narratives. It captures the drama and tension of the story with its detailed depiction of the figures and the setting. The use of perspective adds depth to the composition, creating a sense of distance between the two scenes and emphasizing the contrast between the two main characters.