Gelijkenis van de Verloren Zoon: De verloren zoon wordt uit een huis gejaagd c. 1579 - 1615

Dominicus Custos created this engraving, "Gelijkenis van de Verloren Zoon: De verloren zoon wordt uit een huis gejaagd", using detailed lines to depict a scene of expulsion. The composition is structured around a central doorway, where figures are dramatically forced out. The linear precision gives a sense of depth, highlighting the architectural details and the emotions etched on each character’s face. Notice how the artist uses hatching and cross-hatching to create shadows and volume, enhancing the emotional weight of the narrative. The sharp contrast between light and dark amplifies the tension of the scene, drawing your eye to the moment of conflict. Custos uses the strict lines and structured space to represent a break in social order. The very act of pushing figures outside this boundary underscores the themes of transgression and consequence. The engraving's formal qualities thus serve to convey complex themes of morality and social exclusion, highlighting the powerful interplay between form and content.