Gelijkenis van de ondankbare dienstknecht 1629

This is Christoffel van Sichem’s woodcut, "Gelijkenis van de ondankbare dienstknecht," made around 1600. The composition, tightly packed within the small frame, uses sharp, contrasting lines to create a scene teeming with activity and moral weight. The figures are meticulously arranged in a series of layered spaces, each framed by architectural elements like arches and windows. Note how the artist’s use of perspective, though somewhat naive, creates a sense of depth, drawing the eye from the foreground’s immediate drama to the background’s distant city. Sichem employs line to define forms and textures. The characters' garments, the architectural details, and even the landscape are rendered with remarkable precision. This attention to detail not only enhances the visual complexity, but also invites closer inspection and contemplation of the story's underlying meanings about power, mercy, and justice. These formal choices serve to underscore the narrative's didactic function, inviting viewers to reflect on their own moral standing.